If you ever wondered what's it like to board a 15th Century Spanish Caravel and sail the ocean blue like Christopher Columbus did in the year 1492 then the NAO Santa Maria exhibition allows you to do almost just that.  It's an actual sailing replica of the original Santa Maria which you can explore and learn about Columbus' journeys and indulge your imagination of what it must have been like.

This travelling exhibition sails around the world allowing visitors to climb aboard this floating museum allowing you to get up close to what travelling must have been like for ocean explorers.  The fact that it is actually a very small craft brings home how difficult a journey it must have been even in the fairest of weather.  Just the thought of fitting out all that you need to take - and you did need to take everything that would possibly be required, must have been a daunting task.  Especially not knowing how long the journey would be.  The supplies alone would take up most of the precious little space available.  Then you needed to find room for the more than fourty souls making this journey.

The exhibiton usually calls at most of the UK ports every summer so there's always a chance of catching it if you plan a visit to a coastal port nearest you.  Visit the NAO Victoria  website exhibition and ticket details.