Replica of Columbus' flagship Nao Santa María to visit Cork harbour town 

The Nao Santa María, a replica of the flagship used by Christopher Columbus during his epic 15th century voyage of discovery to the Americas, will make a return visit to Cork this week.

The Nao Santa María, which tied up in Cork city during the summer as part of the Cork Harbour Festival, will visit Kinsale from Thursday to Sunday.

The visit is timed to coincide with celebrations marking the 425th anniversary of the Battle of Kinsale.

On the journey back home to Spain, the original ship floundered off Hispaniola in the Caribbean, and its timbers were rescued and used to build Fuerte Navidad, the first Spanish settlement in the Americas.

The replica, completed in 2018, took 14 months to build by a team of almost 100 shipbuilders.

It weighs 200 tonnes, measures 28.3m in length and 7.96m across the beam, with a main mast that rises almost 25m above the waterline.

The ship will open to the public from 10am to 8pm daily, offering visitors an opportunity to explore her decks, get a fascinating insight into life on the high seas during the 15th century, and learn about one of history’s greatest and most epic voyages of discovery.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit: https://ticket.velacuadra.es.