The Wharf of the Caravels is a museum in Palos de la Frontera, in the province of Huelva, autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Its most prominent exhibits are replicas of Christopher Columbus's boats for his first voyage to the Americas, the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María. These were built in 1992 for the Celebration of the Fifth Centenary of the Discovery of the Americas. The replica caravels were built between 1990 and 1992, put through shakedown voyages and then, in 1992, sailed the route of Columbus's voyage.
Replicas of the Pinta, Niña, and Santa María at the Wharf.
Entrance to the Interpretive Center.
Replica of the Santa María.
The medieval neighborhood, seen from one of the ships.
La Niña was one of the three Spanish ships used by Italian explorer Christopher Columbus in his first voyage to the West Indies in 1492. As was tradition for Spanish ships of the day, she bore a female saint's name, Santa Clara. However, she was commonly referred to by her nickname, La Niña, which was probably a pun on the name of her owner, Juan Niño of Moguer. She was a standard caravel-type vessel.
A depiction of Niña as a caravel on the left
Niña and Pinta replicas at the 1893 Columbian Exposition
The replica of the Columbus Foundation