The port institution and the Traslatio Foundation reaffirm their commitment to opening the port to citizens and promoting maritime cultural tourism.
• The President of the Port Authority, Carlos Botana, visited the Nao Santa María this morning, docked at the Portocultura Pier, which opens its doors to the public from today until October 25.
• Navigation icons such as the Sørlandet —the oldest full-rigged ship in the world in service—, the Georg Stage, the Gunilla, the Alva, and the replica of Christopher Columbus's flagship are meeting this month in Vigo's docks.
This October, the Ría de Vigo reaffirms its status as the maritime capital of the Atlantic, combining its powerful industrial and commercial activity with a historic journey through the great eras of navigation. Within the framework of the Port Authority's strategy to open the port to citizens and highlight nautical heritage, Vigo's docks are hosting a concentration of five large tall ships and historic vessels this month.
The President of the Port Authority of Vigo, Carlos Botana, visited the Nao Santa María this morning, docked at the Portocultura Pier, to officially welcome the crew. During the visit, Botana highlighted the importance of making Vigo a "friendly port" for these floating jewels and a meeting point between marine history and citizens.
The Nao Santa María: Living History in the Heart of Vigo
The faithful replica of Christopher Columbus's historic flagship will be open to the public in Portocultura from today, October 16, until October 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Built in Spain by the Nao Victoria Foundation with the artisanal work of shipwrights and nautical specialists, this 28.3-meter-long vessel pays homage to the first voyage to America in 1492 and the historical link of the original ship itself with the Galician coast.
A Floating Museum Fleet in Vigo's Docks
Alongside the Nao Santa María, the Port Authority of Vigo and the Traslatio Foundation have coordinated the calls of four other emblematic international tall ships at the Trasatlánticos and Portocultura piers:
Georg Stage (04/10 – 07/10 | Trasatlánticos Pier): Majestic Danish training ship, 54 meters long, linked to the oldest active maritime training institution in the world.
Gunilla (07/10 – 11/10 | Trasatlánticos Pier): Swedish schooner, 50 meters long with over 1,000 m² of sail area, converted into a floating training ship.
Sørlandet (10/10 – 14/10 | Trasatlánticos Pier): Launched in Norway in 1927 and 64 meters long, it is the oldest full-rigged ship in active service in the world and one of the great attractions of classic navigation.
Alva (10/10 – 20/10 | Portocultura): Elegant Swedish sailboat, 43 meters long, which uses the estuary as a strategic base for maintenance tasks and crew changes, also offering open days.
Nao Santa María (16/10 – 25/10 | Portocultura): Full-scale replica open for guided tours and the general public.
The simultaneous presence of these magnificent tall ships demonstrates the Port of Vigo's ability to combine daily commercial, fishing, and industrial activity with cultural and tourist events of international projection. Spaces such as Portocultura and the Trasatlánticos Pier once again act as a direct bridge between the sea and the residents, consolidating Vigo as an inclusive, dynamic port proud of its maritime tradition.
