There is a theory that states that Cristopher Columbus was from Ibiza, an hypotheses supported by Nito Verdera, a journalist and prominent researcher on the life of Columbus. And although the most widely held belief is that his place of birth was in the region of Genoa, it is also true that his origins are somewhat of a mystery. There are theories saying that he was Catalan, Sephardic, Mallorcan, Galician, Portuguese, Andalusian, Castilian, Extremaduran, Greek, English, Norwegian, Croatian and also Ibicenco. 

According to one anecdote, there was an occasion in which Christopher Columbus was trying to get funding for one of his expeditions. He challenged those present to make an egg stand on its end. After they fail, he does it himself by tapping the egg on the table to flatten its tip. 

Both the hypothesis that Cristopher Columbus was Ibicencan and the story of the egg meant that, on 12 October 1992, on the occasion of the fifth centenary of the discovery of America, a stunning concrete sculpture in the shape of an egg was placed on the roundabout at the entrance to Sant Antoni de Portmany. It’s six meters high, with a hole in the middle which hold a 2.8 meters long iron replica of the Santa Maria caravel with its bow pointing to America. 

The idea belonged to sculptor Antonio Hormigo, architect (and sculptor) Julio Bauzá designed the project and forged the replica of the ship whilst sculptor Luis Ojeda prepared the design layout. Since then “the egg of Columbus” has been photographed countless times and has become the emblem of the city.