The figure of Christopher Columbus has been the subject of speculation and mystery for more than five centuries, with his birthplace being one of the most debated unknowns.
The official version has always pointed to Genoa as his place of origin, but other theories place him in Ibiza, Mallorca, Galicia, Portugal and even Corsica.
The Ibizan journalist and historian Nito Verdera supports the thesis that Christopher Columbus was born in Ibiza.
In fact, in Sant Antoni there is a moment to the Discovery of America for this reason.
The Egg of Columbusone of the most emblematic monuments of Ibiza, was inaugurated on October 12, 1992 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America.
The sculpture, which symbolizes the famous legend of Columbus’ egg, was created by artists Antoni Hormigo, Julio Bauzá and Luis Ojeda. However, the main driving force behind the project was Nito Verdera, who, based on his research, defended the theory of the navigator’s Ibizan origins.
Verdera dedicated much of his life to researching and promoting the hypothesis that Christopher Columbus could have been born in Ibiza, a theory that continues to be debated in historical circles.
Now, a new documentary entitled Columbus DNA, his true origin seeks to solve this enigma through science, based on research that has been ongoing for more than 20 years. 
DNA, key to Columbus’ origin
In 2002, historian Marcial Castro initiated an investigation to clarify the true origin of the navigator.
A year later, in 2003, the remains of Christopher Columbus, along with those of his son Ferdinand and his brother Diego, were exhumed from the Cathedral of Seville for an exhaustive DNA analysis.
This study, led by Professor of Forensic Medicine José Antonio Lorente, included anthropological, radiological and edaphological techniques, and although it initially faced great difficulties, recent technological advances have allowed the investigation to resume.
According to Muy Interesante, the state of decomposition of the bones and the limited amount of sample available made the analysis difficult at the time.
However, progress in DNA extraction and purification techniques has allowed the results to be revealed in the documentary.
20 years of waiting for the truth
After two decades of work, Lorente affirms that the research seeks to “affirm the truth, whatever it may be”.
Although there have been many theories about the origin of Columbus, this project aims to put an end to the debate, based on results confirmed by independent laboratories in Florence and Texas, which worked without communication between them to ensure the validity of the data.
The documentary Columbus DNA, his true origin, produced by Story Producciones and RTVE in collaboration with the University of Granada, invites us to reflect on how scientific advances can alter our understanding of the past and could provide the definitive answer about the origin of one of the most influential figures in history.
