Nautical Quincentennial

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Naval Replica

District: Porto > Vila do Conde > Vila do Conde > Bairro Piscatório

Location

The 16th-Century Nau is moored in the calm waters of the Ave River, in the town of Vila do Conde. It is specifically located in the Fishing Quarter, an area with a strong connection to the city's maritime tradition, offering an environment that evokes the naval past and riverside life.

Historical Significance

This vessel is a faithful replica of a 16th-century Portuguese carrack, an era of great exploration and maritime expansion. Its construction, carried out in the shipyards of Vila do Conde, is the result of careful research, which revives the ancestral knowledge of carpenters and caulkers, masters in the art of shipbuilding. The carrack is a symbol of the remarkable Portuguese naval capability during the Age of Discoveries.

Onboard Experience

When visiting the 16th-Century Nau, it is possible to gain a detailed perception of life at sea during that time. The interior of the vessel faithfully recreates the quarters and spaces occupied by the crew, featuring human figures representing various elements on board, such as the captain, pilot, scribe, chaplain, apothecary, helmsman, gunner, and cabin boy. This representation aims to illustrate the hierarchy and functions performed during long voyages.

16th-Century Naval Engineering

The design of a 16th-century carrack was a feat of naval engineering, adapted to the demands of long transoceanic voyages. This replica demonstrates the distinctive characteristics of these ships: their round shape, high freeboard, and robustness, designed for navigation in rough waters. The structure, with several decks and the sterncastle and forecastle, allowed for a vast cargo capacity. It was crucial for transporting large quantities of food and water, essential for sustaining the crew on routes without prolonged stops, and also for accommodating valuable and bulky goods, such as spices that came from the East.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt