MILAN (AP) — A state maritime museum in Christopher Columbus' birthplace of Genoa has asked Italy's culture minister to let it become the custodian of the recently recovered 1493 letter in which the explorer described his discoveries.

The director of the Galata Sea Museum told The Associated Press on Friday she wants to put the letter on display in a room dedicated to Columbus' achievements where it can be both well-preserved and shared with the public, not put away in an archive.

Maria Paola Profumo made her request Thursday in a letter to Italian Culture Minister Dario Franceschini.

Franceschini said at a ceremony announcing the letter's return to Italy this week that the document would be returned to the Riccardiana library in Florence, its home when it was replaced with a forgery.