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A full-scale replica of the Santa María, the ship Christopher Columbus captained on his 1492 voyage to the Americas, is now docked at Malaga port and open for public tours until January 25.

 

The vessel arrived at dock number one on Friday January 9, offering visitors a chance to step aboard and experience what 15th-century seafaring was like. Tours run from 10am to 6.30pm with tickets priced at €4 for children, €8 for adults and €20 for families of five or more.

 

This is the Santa María's second visit to the Port of Malaga. The ship is owned by the Nao Victoria Foundation, a non-profit organisation that manages several replicas of historic ships and has maintained a close relationship with the Port of Malaga for some years.

 

The replica was built at the Punta Umbría shipyard in Huelva and launched on March 16, 2018 after 14 months of construction. The 200-tonne vessel combines fibreglass with a wooden hull and measures 28.30 metres long and 7.96 metres wide.

 

Designed with historical accuracy in mind but incorporating modern features that enable it to sail, the ship has five decks and three iron masts plus the bowsprit at the bow, with a total sail area of 250 square metres and a crew of 20 people.

 

The original Santa María set sail from Palos de la Frontera on August 3, 1492, accompanied by the caravels Pinta and Niña. Interestingly, the ship built in Galicia was not actually a caravel but a carrack, as Columbus noted in his journal. After reaching the Americas, the Santa María ran aground on the northern coast of present-day Haiti on the night of December 24-25,1492, becoming one of the most famous ships in maritime history despite its unfortunate end.

 

Image: Nao Victoria Foundation