Ship model SANTA MARIA

The SANTA MARIA was the largest of the three ships, with which Christopher Columbus started his long journey to find a westward sea route to India on 3 August 1492. On 12 October he discovered the island San Salvador east of Cuba. Thus the Spanish colonisation of Central America took its beginning.

There are only very few contemporary data about Christopher Columbus' three expedition ships (Santa Maria, Pinta, Nina). Therefore the different reproductions vary strongly in size, hull form and kind of sails. On the EXPO in Lisbon 1998 I had the chance to visit a Santa Maria reproduction, which seemed designed more like a bar for tourists.

Please take your time to have a good look at the set of photos. There are several views of the entire model and some closer views. If you click on a photo you will get that photo in high resolution. Only these high resolution photographs show how much work and handicraft ability were put in the model. (If you use Microsoft Internet Explorer or Firefox, press F11 to minimize navigation bars and have a larger screen with the photos.)

This somewhat older and affectionately restorated model of the SANTA MARIA is 1:50 scale. Length of the ship model is 72 cm, width 36 cm, and height 57 cm.