17th century Spanish Galleon arrives in Plymouth

Visitors will be able to explore the 'living museum', which is in the city until Sunday

Author: Sophie SquiresPublished 13th Sep 2023

A full-size replica of a 17th century Spanish galleon ship has arrived in Plymouth.

El Galeón will be moored at Barbican Landing Stage until Sunday 17 September, with visitors able to explore the 'living museum' during her stay.

It was originally meant to arrive in August but was postponed due to bad weather.

Members of the public will be able to go onboard and see the ship's six decks which offer a range of features, exhibits and displays.

El Galeón's live-in crew will also be on hand to talk to visitors and explain more about the ship and the history behind the Spanish galleon fleet.

They were used predominantly between the 16th and 18th centuries and took the lead role in many of the world's trade and cultural routes that were the longest in length and duration than any other in the history of maritime navigation.

Built by the Nao Victoria Foundation at the Punta Umbria shipyard at Huelva in Spain, El Galeón was launched 2009.

She has since covered more than 70,000 nautical miles around the world's oceans, visited ports in four continents, participated in many cultural projects, and has been visited by thousands of visitors at over a hundred ports all over the world.

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