On the Santa Maria Ship, located near the Funchal Marina, one can experience the daring of sailors who traversed the Atlantic Ocean over 500 years ago and discovered the American continent.
They are open from half past ten in the morning until half past one in the afternoon. Then again from three in the afternoon until five in the evening.
- Coordinates: 32.645924, -16.911131
Have you ever imagined embarking on a journey that changed the world? It is one of the most exciting activities in Madeira (for the tourist route and what to do on the island, click Best Things To Do In Madeira.
Ticket price – Santa Maria ship, Funchal
The cost is €35 per adult, and it’s an unforgettable journey to various locations along the island’s coastline, lasting for 3 hours.
The chances of spotting dolphins and whales during the tour are high. And in the summer, there is a stop for anyone who wants to take a dip near Cape Girão Skywalk.
Location:
Marina do Funchal, 9000-055
Phone:
291220327
The notion of the Santa Maria replica was born from a Dutch adventurer. Much like Columbus centuries ago, he chose the island to reside.
The Columbus Santa Maria shipwrecked in 1492 in Haiti. Five hundred years later, Rob Wijntje fulfils an old dream by building a full-scale replica of Columbus’s ship – the only one in the world that sails.
Unlike today, navigation was not done with the aid of GPS. Much relied on factors such as discipline, courage, and luck.
Navigating a vessel of this size without a motor in the middle of the ocean, relying solely on the wind… was extremely difficult.
The ship was built and decorated using the same materials used by the explorers, which attracted the Discovery Channel, which filmed the history of Columbus here.
This journey is steeped in history in every corner, in every landscape. Neither the sea nor the passage of time can erase the memories of such an epic journey.
