Historic Spanish Ship El Galeón Sails Florida Coast for Viva Florida 500

Historic Spanish Ship El Galeón Sails Florida Coast for Viva Florida 500

Galleon replica visits from Spain for 500th anniversary of Ponce de León landing

El Galeón

Marking the 500th anniversary of the landing in Florida of Juan Ponce de León, the historic replica ship El Galeón sailed from Spain for a four-port tour of La Florida, and we had the really unique opportunity to explore the ship on its visit to Cape Canaveral.

El Galeón

The Viva Florida 500 Voyage tells the story of this 16th Century vessel, its importance in Florida history and U.S. history, and plans for visitors to come aboard through June 3 in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Cape Canaveral, and St. Augustine.

El Galeón

Ponce de León was a Spanish explorer who claimed Florida for Spain 500 years ago after landing on Florida’s northeast coast. His ship’s last known navigational reading was 30 degrees, 8 minutes, off the coast of St. Augustine, the oldest city in the United States.
El Galeón began its historic Viva Florida 500 Voyage in Spain and recently departed from Puerto Rico, where Ponce de León was a governor. The ship’s route is similar to the one Ponce de León sailed 500 years ago and is being sailed using technology of that past era.

 

Ponce de León’s arrival in Florida in April 1513 marked the beginning of a European presence in what is now the U.S. mainland. He also is credited with discovering the Gulf Stream, which led to development of the early trade routes between Spain and the Americas that brought galleons filled with treasures close to Florida’s shores.
El Galeón is a 170 foot, 495 ton, detailed wooden replica of a galleon that was part of Spain’s West Indies fleet.  In the Viva Florida 500 Voyage, it will cover more than 900 nautical miles, with 28 crew members aboard, maneuvering more than 9,600 square feet of sail area, as it was done in the 16th century. The ship is owned by the Nao Victoria Foundation of Sevilla, Spain.

 

At each port, visitors can come aboard to learn about the ship and crew, the important time in Florida history the El Galeón represents, and how these events five centuries ago shaped the Sunshine State of today.

El Galeón

It was beyond awesome to take in all the details of this amazing ship, and to take in all the information we could! We especially loved the video of El Galeón as it was sailing with dolphins swimming along side of her!

El Galeón

If you have the chance to catch El Galeón during the Viva 500 Celebration, I definitely would!!!

El Galeón

El Galeón Information

Public tours April 15 – June 3
Daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

— The Cove at Port Canaveral, Cape Canaveral: Wednesday, May 1 – Sunday, May 12
— Bahia Mar Marina, Fort Lauderdale: Tuesday, May 14 – Sunday, May 19
— City Marina, St. Augustine: Thursday, May 23 – Monday, June 3

For More Ticket information visit VISITFLORIDA.showclix.com

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