Replica ship docks in Sagres to promote cultural tourism

A replica of the Spanish carrack named Victoria will be docked and open to visitors at the port of Baleeira in Sagres between 15 and 19 February as part of the first initiative of the cultural tourism project ‘The European Route of Discoveries’ jointly promoted by the Algarve and Andalucia.

The Victoria is a replica of the first ship to successfully circumnavigate the world under the command of Fernão de Magalhães.
According to the President of the PromoSagres business association, the open ship event is part of a number of projects being planned by the Descubriter route that will include the launch of a virtual museum as well as tourist promotion aboard other historic replicas.
The route aims to promote “all of this circuit, from the Cape of Saint Vincent to Seville, which is intrinsically linked to the Discoveries,” he told Lusa News Agency, adding that the aim is to provide tourists with an experience of the place, not just the typical sun and beach.
“We have a different offer along the St. Vincent coast. We combine the unique and authentic nature of the Algarve with a very singular historic side,” that is little understood by visitors.
As part of The European Route of Discoveries, other projects will be launched that include a virtual museum with multimedia content about the region’s historic location, the training of guides and seminars about the age of discoveries.
A number of entities including the Algarve’s regional tourism board, the Algarve’s regional cultural authority, the Seville tourism board and the Nau Victoria Foundation are all linked to the Descubriter project.