Page 418 - Lanzarotto Malocello from Italy to the Canary Islands

418 from Italy to the Canary Islands

he discovery of the Canary Islands, beginning with Lanzarote,
named by its discoverer, the Italian navigator Malocello Lanzarotto,
who landed there seven hundred years ago, is a historical fact
particularly worthy of being remembered and celebrated by both the Italian
and Spanish parts of the island. It is true that the documents and sources
handed down regarding the person of Malocello and its discovery in 1312
are scarce and can give way to doubt as to the precise date. However, the
celebration under preparation for 2012 is not the commemoration of a
mere date in the past, but of the historical importance of the discovery as
such, whether it was accomplished a few years earlier or later. Indeed,
it opened a new page in the history of the natives of the island and the
two countries, Italy and Spain, which would later inhabit it. Important
relationships developed between them on the trade routes, which then led
then to cultural exchanges.
Contrary to what one might imagine, the arrival of the Italians and
then the Spaniards did not bring a destructive type of colonialism; the
indigenous culture was preserved over the centuries. Those who visit the
island of Lanzarote today marvel at how much of its ancient culture is still
there, in the profile and character of the people, the form of agriculture,
the language and customs. The inhabitants of the island of Lanzarote have
certainly taken a lot from the Spanish and Italian cultures, but integrating
them harmoniously within their own. So much so that the celebration is
happily looked forward to not only by the Italians and Spaniards but also
by the residents of the Island of Lanzarote.
Given the importance of the historical event of the discovery of the
island of Lanzarote, the celebration initiative started and brought forward
by Dr. Alfonso Licata of Rome was very well received by the high local and
national authorities of the Island as well as those of Italy and Spain. We
wish great success to the cultural celebration initiative planned in 2012,
which will involve two nations, starting from Arrecife, the capital city of
the Island, and Genoa, Malocello’s city of origin from where the sailor left
on his voyage of discovery, and will then move on to other places of the
Canary Islands, Spain, and Italy; this will be a very important opportunity
to deepen cultural exchanges among the participants. As for this last