SANTA MARIA

Christoph Columbus, an Italian navigator living in Portugal, was fascinated by geography and wanted to open a new route to India by sailing westward. After the kings of Portugal, England and France had all refused to back his plan, Colombus turned to the Spanish monarchs, who appointed him admiral of an expedition comprising three caravels the NIÑA, the PINTA and the SANTA MARIA. After a voyage lasting more than month, Colombus discovered the Bahamas on October 12, 1492.