Curacao

SYNOPSIS

The island of Curaçao was discovered in 1499 by Alonso de Ojeda, one of Columbus's lieutenants. The inhabitants were Indians of huge physical proportions therefore aptly called "Isla de los Gigantes" or (Islands of the Giants). Within 20 years, the name Curaçao appeared on a Portuguese map. The island remained Spanish until the Dutch conquered it in 1643.