The Santisima

The greatest and most powerful battleship of the 18th Century, the Santisima Trinidad, has arrived at the new Maritime Museum, La Real Fuerza Castle, in the well-known Plaza de Armas in the historic center of Old Havana, thus enriching Cuban maritime history.

After 36 months of dedicated hard work by a group of Cuban artisans, led by Juan Carlos Zuloaga, this model has been constructed through the research, funding and collaboration of the Canadian based Friends of Santisima Trinidad Association, the Havana City Historian's Office, chaired by Dr. Eusebio Leal, and the Embassies of Canada and Spain in Cuba.

The four-metre-long replica, was created on a 1:25 scale with such perfection that one can see the smallest details of life on board a naval vessel from the 18th century, originally built by the Royal Shipyard of Havana.

Interior construction details are exposed on one side of the vessel, and visitors will be able to use a computer interface and touch screen to take a virtual tour of the ship in Spanish and English.

At the ceremony of delivery to the museum, the Canadian Ambassador Jean Pierre Juneau spoke of the importance of the work as a treasure of the island's maritime heritage and thanked those who contributed to the successful achievement of the project. The Canadian Embassy has also worked with the Friends of Santisima Trinidad through the Canadian Local Initiatives Fund to create a ...