In mid-June 1496, Columbus departed Cádiz by mule with his two dozen Taíno captives for Seville, where he would wait for Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand’s summons for an audience. By month end, the entourage arrived to reside some days at the home and church of Andrés Bernáldez, the curate of Los Palacios, a town and parish south of Seville.
Bernáldez then was compiling information to write his history of Isabella and Ferdinand’s reign, the Historia de los Reyes Católicos D. Fernando y Doña Isabel. Columbus lent him copies of various correspondence to help with chapters on the “Indies.”
According to Bernáldez, he hosted Columbus, Caonabó’s brother, and Bishop Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca in his home. As depicted in Columbus and Caonabó: 1493–1498 Retold, I believe the other Taínos—including the two enslaved interpreters discussed in the post of February 4, 2024—slept in gardens of or outside his church, which lies across a street from the home.
The following photos show: the site of Bernáldez’s home (on the left) and the church across the street (on the right); a bust of Bernáldez erected nearby; and the main entrance to the church.
