![Cristoforo Colombo sailing ship](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWzIaKCezr6VIXrBwBlwYbSoti_04WwzU9Oj8wjNsC__gGxRGogFghmkLu_wdjGhQX_LU1L3KKYtnmkx2VgaW9Z0UPPib38IEmDM8q9H-Oe6TC1I6-89ytMgsH3VTdi1HUxFe1UHBTRoE/s640/Cristoforo-Colombo-2.jpg)
The “Cristoforo Colombo” was launched on April 4, 1928, at the “Regio Cantiere Navale” (Royal Shipyard) in
Castellammare di Stabia, near Naples. She was the sister-ship of the “
Amerigo Vespucci”: the vessels were almost twins, with some minor differences regarding the propulsion and the placement of the masts.
![Cristoforo Colombo sailing ship](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwNjF3j4rOfVIOytgQQ5DO4_jOO4hVpEJpGtRTs3RyrtcvFO2nKf3EJa8eFTW3E8SfPsXPEl1cD6csG3lTIEI7eFO-7Dllw6E6HMllROYXtJp0KPozvCKG6Qg0IQIRo115MMaiURF4Hji/s640/Cristoforo-Colombo-3.jpg)
The figurehead at the bow, representing
Cristopher Columbus, is now at the “Museo Tecnico Navale” (Technical Naval Museum) in La Spezia.
![Cristoforo Colombo sailing ship](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2l2bOxAqfx74ZUdYYwgjSiLy3oKH5jPGMYLWYpOEofCX5DXUc9fi7L90f8XwSFbLUnzatXQOrLtYi9cWVV34vgrneOhSNDemq9kDOzqxcmx9-WxMZGPIXxRJgLG1iUCJ9mJyI9y5pleA-/s640/Cristoforo-Colombo-1.jpg)
In 1949 the ship was handed over to the Soviet Union as war damage compensation. Renamed “Dunay” (Danube), she was used in Odessa as a training vessel for young Soviet sailors until 1959. In 1961, dismasted and reduced to a barge, she was used for a while as a wood carrier until she burned up with all her load in 1963.
(Images digitized from a 1931 copy of “Liburni Civitas”, courtesy of Antonio Cantelli)
Search labels:
Amerigo Vespucci
External links:
Cristoforo Colombo (Wikipedia) -
The Strange Fate of the Cristoforo Colombo (Around Naples Encyclopedia)
12 comments:
These are wonderful VP. Thank you for posting.
Such majestic ships.
What a majestic opening image! Thanks for sharing this..
Nice post.
This is such an interesting tale. The idea of this fine ship ending up as a simple barge is unbelievable.
A sad end for a fine ship. What a history! So good that you found all the photos of her life.
Look at all those sailors standing on the yards!
What a sad destiny, to be handed over to the Soviets...
God bless you!
Cezar
I can't help but agree with Cezar. Such is life...
Thanks for sharing these images. Never seen pictures of this ship.
Glad the figurehead was rescued and it's in a museum now.
What a sad ending for a beautiful ship. Thanks for the pics and story. MB
Triste. Chissa quanti monumenti, tesori, ricordi hanno finito sotto la bandiera dell'Unione Sovietica? Eh..
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