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Dominicans celebrated Columbus Day on October, 12

On October, 12, the Dominican Republic celebrated Columbus Day. Dozens of visitors crowded under a towering monument at the explorer's tomb, although the recent studies found that the authentic remains are in a cathedral in Seville, Spain.

Christopher Columbus arrived in the Bahamas in October 1492. In December, he landed on the island of Hispaniola. Columbus died in Spain in 1506. His remains were sent to be buried in Santo Domingo, but Spain believes that they were returned to Europe, when France briefly took control of Hispaniola in 1795. They are buried in Seville.

But Dominicans insist that the true remains are in the Dominican Republic, they were found in the cathedral of Santo Domingo in 1877, marked with the inscription, "illustrious and distinguished male, Christopher Columbus."

According to Spanish geneticists, DNA from bone slivers buried in Seville matched DNA from remains of Columbus' brother Diego, that means, the true remains of the great explorer are in Spain.

However, people continue to pay homage to Christopher Columbus at the monument in Santo Domingo. The event itself is more significant than the place of burial.