Canary Islands
The deep blue-green ocean waters off the coast of the Canary Islands provide a beautiful entrance to their tropical vegetation, bright sands, and palm trees. Some scholars speculate that St. Brendan landed on these islands on his way to America. The early stories of St. Brendan written down in the Navigatio speak of St. Brendan going to the “promised land.” In the 15th century explorers from Europe set out to find the “promised land” where St Brendan landed, or what some call “St Brendan’s Isle”. Yet there was no defined answer as to where this place was. There were many islands that seemed to appear and disappear during the 15th century as explorers lost track of where islands were or were not. St. Brendan’s Isle became the stuff of legends—a disappearing and reappearing island.
Where is this place—this “promised land”? Is it a just a legendary island? Is it an island somewhere out in the Atlantic Ocean? Or is it even some place else? In the last century, there have been interested researchers who speculate that St. Brendan sailed to America—that North America was his promised land. And that the places he visited on his way were tropical islands, not the final destination. The Navigatio describes the islands that St. Brendan went to as places with muddy pools, volcanoes, and crystals. Some scholars think this depiction describes Iceland, others think that it points to tropical islands like the Azores or the Canary Islands. And then there are those scholars who say that Columbus followed in St. Brendan’s footsteps when he came to these islands centuries later. These same scholars say that Columbus had a copy of the Navigatio in hand as he sailed. And maybe, just maybe, it is true that St. Brendan visited the Canary Islands on his way to North America, just like the explorers who followed him.
Where is this place—this “promised land”? Is it a just a legendary island? Is it an island somewhere out in the Atlantic Ocean? Or is it even some place else? In the last century, there have been interested researchers who speculate that St. Brendan sailed to America—that North America was his promised land. And that the places he visited on his way were tropical islands, not the final destination. The Navigatio describes the islands that St. Brendan went to as places with muddy pools, volcanoes, and crystals. Some scholars think this depiction describes Iceland, others think that it points to tropical islands like the Azores or the Canary Islands. And then there are those scholars who say that Columbus followed in St. Brendan’s footsteps when he came to these islands centuries later. These same scholars say that Columbus had a copy of the Navigatio in hand as he sailed. And maybe, just maybe, it is true that St. Brendan visited the Canary Islands on his way to North America, just like the explorers who followed him.