Country
Portugal
City / Region
Vila do Conde, Porto District, Portugal, Europe
Museum Characteristics
Housed in a 15th-century building that was the former Royal Customs House. The museum is dedicated to the history of shipbuilding in Vila do Conde, famous for its "naus" (carracks). It includes a life-size replica of a 16th-century ship.
Collection Type
Documents, tools, models, and interpretation related to the construction of wooden ships during the Age of Discovery. The centerpiece is the full-scale replica of a "Nau Quinhentista" (16th-century carrack).
Collection Size
Not available
Main Exhibitions
Main Exhibition: The process of building a 16th-century ship, from the selection of wood to the launch. Visitors can board the replica ship.
Observations
The museum space was established in 2001. The replica ship was built between 2006 and 2007, using historical techniques, and is a major attraction. The building itself dates back to 1487.
Source(s)
VILA DO CONDE. Câmara Municipal. Alfândega Régia - Museu de Construção Naval. Vila do Conde. Disponível em: https://www.cm-viladoconde.pt/pages/244. Acesso em: 29 maio 2025.