Naval Museum

In the very heart of Santa Cruz de La Palma, an impressive wooden ship invites you to embark on a journey through the island’s maritime past. The Naval Museum Barco de la Virgen is not only one of the most important museums on La Palma, but also a living symbol of its seafaring identity.

Useful Information

A Museum Inside a Ship: Living History by the Sea

The museum houses a valuable collection of objects that tell the story of La Palma’s close relationship with the sea. From 18th-century nautical charts to detailed models, navigation instruments, and portraits of historical figures, every piece reflects the island’s maritime identity.

What makes this museum truly unique is its setting: a full-scale replica of the Santa María, the famous caravel used by Christopher Columbus on his first voyage to America. Built in 1940 and opened as a museum in 1975, this striking wooden ship has become one of the most photographed landmarks in the city.

Plaza de La Alameda: Tradition and Symbolism

The museum’s location on the historic Plaza de La Alameda adds even more charm. Surrounded by colorful traditional Canarian houses, the square is also home to a very special statue: the Enano (Dwarf), a beloved symbol of Santa Cruz de La Palma. Together with the island’s patron saint, the Virgin of the Snows (Virgen de las Nieves), the Enano becomes one of the main stars of the Lustral Festivities, celebrated every five years with music, theater, and heartfelt emotion.

A Ship that Becomes a Stage

The Barco de la Virgen is not only a museum, it is also a stage. Every five years, it hosts the famous “Dialogue between the Castle and the Ship”, a performance written by Antonio Rodríguez López that pays tribute to the island’s naval past and its deep connection to the Virgin.

Visiting the Naval Museum Barco de la Virgen is therefore much more than a museum tour, it is an immersion into the soul of La Palma’s maritime tradition.