Barcelona: Medieval Shipyards

I am not a sailor nor a fisherman.  I have been known to enjoy an afternoon out on a boat being manned by others (especially if beverages are involved) but that is the extent of my enthusiasm.  So when I say the Museu Maritim is terrific, take it from a landlubber, it is.

The museum encompasses the site and portions of the medieval shipyards built around 1284. From the outside the defensive walls are still visible.  There are eight parallel aisles, part of the original footprint of docks and shipbuilding that took place here.  These were the royal shipyards for the Crown of Aragon and later Spain.  You can see the arches of the aisles in the picture of the exterior.   Grasslands means shipyard in Catalan and both a street and nearby metro stop bear that name.

Each arch signifies one of the original aisles

Medieval wall attached to shipyard/museum

The shipyards could build up to 30 galley ships at a time.  There is a well researched, full scale model on display which is mighty impressive.  I think the pictures give you an idea as to the size of the complex.  

The detail work is amazing.  I think this galley ship held about 275 people.

Here is a small model with the sails up.  I think there were about 29 oars to be manned on each side.

In addition, there are smaller models of different types of boats including more modern speed boats like the Evinrude.  (Anyone remember The Rescuers?)  One we found interesting was a model of the one surviving ship from Magellan's voyage.  Of the five original ships, only Victoria completed the voyage and was the first ship to circumnavigate the world.