Yesterday, Sunday November 9th, the famous replica of the Pascual Flores schooner came back to the port of Torrevieja. It will stay in the harbour, Salinas Harbour, until after Christmas.
The Nao Victoria Foundation, which runs the paddleboat for tourists, says that the ship “Thus culminates in the birthplace of this vessel, the great European tour that it has made throughout this year, in which it has visited 21 ports” in France, the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain.
The Andalusian Foundation said it was “an impressive tour” that included “important events and far-reaching international events.” Sail Amsterdam 2025 and the Tall Ship Race 2025, one of the biggest tall ship races in the world, where it finished first in its category, were two of the most important events.
The last sailing ships in the Mediterranean
This year, the classic ship has sailed thousands of miles and opened its decks to the public in every European port it has visited. More than 35,000 people have been able to learn about Torrevieja’s rich maritime history, the skill of its shipbuilding, and the history of this historic ship, which is a symbol of the last sailing ships in the Mediterranean.
The Foundation insists that the historic schooner is the original one built in Torrevieja in 1917 for the successful salt trade with Africa and the Mediterranean. The ship that has moored in the bay is a replica of the original, which the Torrevieja City Council bought in the 2000s but couldn’t salvage since it was in such terrible shape. The replica was made using traditional shipbuilding methods, though.
Visits Today: thanks to a partnership between the Torrevieja City Council and the Nao Victoria Foundation, this old sailing ship still sails the world as a floating ambassador for Torrevieja’s culture and history.
The Pascual Flores will be open to the public from Thursday through Sunday in November and December, as well as during Christmas. Groups from schools and associations can also have guided tours, and there will be a schedule of activities planned with the Torrevieja City Council.
Residents of Torrevieja will also have to buy tickets this time. The Torrevieja City Council gives the Foundation more than €225,000 a year to take care of the sailboat. The Foundation can also use it to make money during classic boat events, where it offers cruise tourism and visits to the ports where it docks.
The sailing ship comes to the municipality at least once a year because the Foundation and the municipality reached an agreement in 2021 that lets the ship stay in port in Torrevieja and highlight the history of local maritime trade. The ship has travelled 26,000 nautical miles, which is about 49,000 kilometres, which is the major goal of that agreement.
Visit days and times
Dates: Thursday through Sunday until after Christmas.
Hours of operation: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Cost: €5 for one admission
You can buy tickets on board or online at www.fundacionnaovictoria.org.
Author: Derek Appleton
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