Vera Cruz

The ‘Vera Cruz’ was built in 2000 at the shipyard of Vila do Conde, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of Brazil. The vessel is an accurate reconstruction of a caravel, the iconic ship type used by Portuguese navigators during the 15th and 16th centuries to explore the world.

Today, the Vera Cruz is used for sail training, maritime education and youth-focused learning projects. The ship takes part in numerous nautical events and regattas, supports research into the sailing characteristics of historical caravels, and regularly welcomes school groups from Lisbon and other Portuguese ports.

The caravel was known for its speed, agility and shallow draft, making it ideal for voyages of discovery along unknown coasts and rivers. This type of vessel played a key role in the expeditions of explorers such as Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama and Columbus.

The Vera Cruz is crewed entirely by volunteers from Aporvela, who are dedicated to sail training, heritage preservation and the maritime development of young people.