Which city was Columbus based in from 1477 to 1485?

Columbus was based in Lisbon from 1477 to 1485.

After serving in Mediterranean and Atlantic commerce, Columbus reached Portugal following a shipwreck off Lagos in August 1476. He then traveled to Lisbon, where he joined his brother Bartholomew and continued working in maritime trade. Lisbon was a major Atlantic port, making it a useful base for someone interested in routes, maps, and oceanic navigation.

During these years Columbus undertook commercial voyages, including a sugar-buying trip to Madeira in 1478. He also married Felipa Moniz Perestrelo, whose family had connections to Portugal’s Atlantic islands. These Portuguese experiences helped shape his knowledge of Atlantic sailing before he sought royal sponsorship for his westward expedition.

Genoa is a frequent alternative because Columbus is generally identified as Genoese and was probably born in the Republic of Genoa. Seville is another tempting answer because it later became central to Spain’s administration of American trade, but it was not his base during the 1477–1485 period.