News - 30/03/17

The Nao Victoria, an authentic wooden replica of the ship that first sailed around the world, will be welcoming visitors during her stopover at Trinity Landing in Cowes from Thursday, 20th to Tuesday, 25th April. The ship will be open to the public from 1000 to 1900 and offers an exciting opportunity to experience what it was like to explore the world 500 years ago.

Tickets can be purchased on the ship or online at www.fundacionnaovictoria.org and cost £4 for adults and £2 for children aged 5-10 years. Children under 5 go free, accompanied by an adult. School groups will be welcomed; please make reservations in advance to Sole Gea via email: sole@fundacionnaovictoria.org.

The original Nao Victoria was Ferdinand Magellan’s ship, and her name is associated with the first ever circumnavigation of the world in the 16th century (1519-1522). Nao Victoria was part of a Spanish expedition commanded by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, and after his death during the voyage, by Juan Sebastián Elcano.

The expedition comprised five ships and had a crew of 243 men, commanded by Magellan. It set sail from the port of Seville, Spain on 10th August 1519. It was known as the Armada de la Especiería (Spice Route Armada) and was financed by the Spanish Crown since its goal was to find a new westbound route to reach the Moluccas, islands known back then as the Spice Islands (now Indonesia).

For three years, the expedition sailed across three oceans, visited southern coasts of the United States, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina and discovered the Strait of Magellan. They sailed across the immense Pacific Ocean, discovered islands and archipelagos and finally reached the Philippines and the Moluccas. The Nao Victoria, the only ship to survive the voyage, started her return trip under the command of Juan Sebastián Elcano. Having crossed the Indian Ocean, the ship arrived to the African continent, navigated south to round the Cape of Good Hope and returned to Spain. On 8th September 1522, just 18 men returned to Seville without truly realising that they had accomplished the greatest adventure in the maritime history, the first round-the-world voyage.

The replica of the Nao Victoria was built for the EXPO, the World’s Fair held in 1992 in Seville, capital of Andalusia and the original Nao’s port of origin. The Nao Victoria is the only replica of the original ship that managed to circumnavigate the world.

Watch the Nao Victoria video below: