Lanzarote paid tribute to Lancelotto Malocello this Thursday on the 700th anniversary of his arrival on the island. For this purpose, some talks were organized, whose inaugural session focused on the legend surrounding the Genoese navigator. These conferences have "high-level" speakers, according to reports from the Cabildo.
During the conference, the first to speak was Alfonso Licata, who stated that the Genoese navigator arrived in Lanzarote in approximately 1312. It was in 1339 when the island first appeared on a cartographic map by Angelino Dulcert, under the Genoese flag. He also explained that Malocello built a castle or fortress, whose archaeological remains are located in the vicinity of the Guanapay volcano, in Teguise.
In his speech, Licata spoke about the historical context of the Genoese navigator. He explained the knowledge that existed in classical and Roman antiquity about the Canary Islands. "The Fortunate Islands and Madeira were territories shrouded in legend and myth, located in the dark ocean beyond the Pillars of Hercules (Strait of Gibraltar)," he said.
Licata also explained that in the context of the Silk Road, the rise of trade, and especially the two maritime republics of Genoa and Venice, the demands for spices and luxury goods began to increase. Thus, small commercial colonies began to be created in different parts of the Mediterranean coast, always as a result of agreements.
"Without any desire for conquest or domination. This allows Genoa and Venice to develop their naval potential and have powerful fleets. With these means, the Genoese began to expand, creating colonies also on the West African coast and consulates in North Africa, the Balearic Islands, Lisbon, and Seville, which became important commercial ports," he indicated.
Licata explained that in this environment of "great Atlantic expeditions," the Vivaldi brothers initiated a route seeking to reach the Indies, skirting Africa. "They did not return, and apparently, Lancelotto Malocello went in search of them and thus arrived in Lanzarote," he stated. "This is a reliable fact. Also, that he did so some 200 years before the arrival of the Franco-Normans, commanded by Jean de Bethencourt," he noted.
Licata does not rule out that "even these were descendants, since in those times emigration from Genoa to France was common." "Although not much is known about the Malocello either. Only that they were a Genoese lineage, dedicated to finance, commerce, and banking, as well as that they had properties," he assured.
Experts from the Canary Islands and Italy
The vice president of the Cabildo, Joaquín Caraballo, present at the opening of the conference, announced that in the coming days "an attempt will be made to answer questions about the supposed arrival 700 years ago of Lancelotto Malocello, his settlement for 20 years, and the construction of a fortress." "We have some of the most reputable experts in the field, both from the Canary Islands and Italy, who will contribute their points of view on the role played by Malocello in the history of the island, which he apparently named," Caraballo assured.
For her part, the Minister of Culture, Emma Cabrera, also highlighted the importance of the event: "It is a significant day for the history of Lanzarote. Lancelotto Malocello was possibly the first European to arrive in the Canary Islands," she assured.
