On the waterfront below the Monasterio de la Rábida is this pseudo 15th-century quayside, where you can board life-size replicas of the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa María – the three ships used by Columbus in his initial trans-Atlantic expedition. A single ticket grants access to all three ships and the attached museum, which features excellent bilingual (English-Spanish) displays tracing the history of Columbus’ voyages. Here you can see instruments of navigation and get a glimpse of the indigenous experience at the time of the Spaniards' arrival.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
7.81 MILES
Possibly the most spectacular beach on Huelva's Costa de la Luz, this 8km-long sand bar along the mouth of the Río Piedras can be reached only by ferry,…
28.44 MILES
Castro Marim's huge castle has an intriguing borderland history. Much of the area was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake, but the ruins of the main fort are…
0.26 MILES
In the pretty, peaceful village of La Rábida, don’t miss this palm-fringed, hilltop Franciscan monastery, visited several times by Columbus before his…
Reserva Natural do Sapal de Castro Marim e Vila Real de Santo António
28.57 MILES
Established in 1975, this nature reserve is mainland Portugal’s oldest, covering 20 sq km of marshland and salt pans bordering the Rio Guadiana. Winter…
25.06 MILES
A striking splash of white at the heart of the town, the Ermita del Rocío was built in its present form in 1964. This is the permanent home of the…
25.64 MILES
Matalascañas's long sandy beach stretches for 4km along the south edge of town, merging at either end into the wilder beaches of Parque Nacional de Doñana…
3.12 MILES
This wide-ranging museum is stuffed with history and art. The permanent ground-floor exhibition concentrates on Huelva province’s impressive…
6.6 MILES
Columbus spent a night of vigil and prayer at this grand 14th-century monastery upon returning from his first voyage in March 1493. Highlights of the 45…
Nearby Andalucía attractions
0.26 MILES
In the pretty, peaceful village of La Rábida, don’t miss this palm-fringed, hilltop Franciscan monastery, visited several times by Columbus before his…
2. Parque Botánico José Celestino Mutis
0.46 MILES
La Rábida's beautifully landscaped botanical garden sits on a hillside, with plants and trees from both New World and Old. The large park makes for a…
3. Casa Museo Martín Alonso Pinzón
2.31 MILES
The former home of the Pinzón brothers (captains of the Niña and the Pinta) now houses a permanent exhibition on Palos' crucial contribution to Columbus'…
2.36 MILES
In an old sailors' hospital, Palos' naval museum hosts an impressive collection of ship models, from prehistoric canoes to Columbus' Niña.
2.38 MILES
Towards the northern end of Calle Colón is this 15th-century Gothic-Mudéjar church, where Columbus and his sailors took Communion before embarking on…
3.12 MILES
This wide-ranging museum is stuffed with history and art. The permanent ground-floor exhibition concentrates on Huelva province’s impressive…
3.21 MILES
Huelva's salmon-pink Casa Colón was constructed as the city's original luxury hotel in the 1880s to accommodate guests of the Rio Tinto company. It now…
8. Muelle-Embarcadero de Mineral de Río Tinto
3.22 MILES
An odd legacy of the area's mining history, this impressive iron pier curves out into the Odiel estuary 500m south of the port. It was designed for the…