[Archived] City of Alexandria Welcomes Tall Ship “El Galeón,” Nov. 9-14

For Immediate Release: October 31, 2016

The City of Alexandria Marina will be the scene of living history as “El Galeón,” an authentic replica of a 16^th-century Spanish Galleon, visits the city from Wednesday, November 9, through Monday, November 14. Galleons, used by the Spanish Crown for maritime expeditions from the 16^th to 18^th centuries, were fabled merchant vessels and war ships that made up the early navies of Europe.

El Galeón, commissioned by the Nao Victoria Foundation, was launched in 2009. The 500-ton, 160-foot long vessel has a 32-foot beam and its four masts hold six sails that measure nearly 11,000 square feet. Converted into a floating museum, five of the vessel’s six decks are available for tours, including an exhibit on "San Pelayo," the Spanish galleon that was instrumental in the founding of St. Augustine, the first city established by European settlers in what is now the United States. The vessel carries an all-Spanish crew that lives and breathes the history of the ship and its travels from port to port and in the open sea.

The ship will be docked at the City Marina (0 Cameron St.) and will be available for tours from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-12, and free for children under age 5. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.VisitAlexandriaVA.com/el-galeon.

For media inquiries, contact Craig Fifer, Director of Communications and Public Information, at craig.fifer@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3965.

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