Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock will soon welcome an extraordinary visitor, the Galeón Andalucía, a full-scale reconstruction of the iconic Spanish galleons that once crossed the world’s oceans between the 16th and 18th centuries.
Weighing 500 tons, the vessel mirrors the ships once commissioned by the Spanish Crown for long-distance expeditions and trade, engineered to navigate vast seas with speed and resilience.
The replica took years to bring to life. Researchers first spent three years analysing original ship blueprints, dimensions and historical records to capture every detail of the Indies-era galleons. Once the design was finalised, construction took just under two years, involving a team of 150 craftsmen, before the ship’s official launch in 2010.
Since then, the Galeón Andalucía has travelled tens of thousands of nautical miles across the globe, serving as a floating tribute to maritime history. The ship, currently docked at Shoreham Port, was originally scheduled to arrive in the city on Tuesday 9 September. However, adverse weather has delayed its departure, and it will now set sail for Liverpool once conditions improve. The vessel is expected to reach the city on Thursday 25 September at around 1pm and will open to the public from Friday 26 September, and remain until Sunday 5 October, open to visitors daily from 10am to 8pm.
Described as a “floating museum,” the vessel gives guests the chance to step back in time and explore five decks filled with stories of seafaring adventure.
Tickets are available online here.
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