St. Augustine, Fla. (April 19, 2013) -- St. Augustine is one of only four Florida port stops for the Viva Florida 500 Voyage of El Galeón as it sails a historic route similar to Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León's 500 years ago. The ship set sail from Puerto Rico on April 1 and will spend 12 days in St. Augustine May 23 - June 3.   

El Galeón is a 170 foot, 495 ton, authentic wooden replica of a galleon that was part of Spain's West Indies fleet. The Viva Florida 500 Voyage will call on ports in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Cape Canaveral and St. Augustine beginning April 15 and culminating June 3, as part of the state's Quincentenary commemorations. 

The galleon will cover more than 900 nautical miles, with 28 crewmembers on board maneuvering more than 9,600 square feet of sail area, the same way it was conducted in the 16th century. It is owned by the Nao Victoria
Foundation of Sevilla, Spain.

Ponce de León sailed from Puerto Rico, where he was Governor, in search of an Island of riches and perhaps the fountain of youth. He spotted land April 3, 1513 and promptly named it La Florida. His arrival marked the beginning of a European presence in what is now the U. S. mainland, and Ponce de Leon is also credited with discovering the Gulf Stream which led to development of the early trade routes between Spain and the America's that brought galleons filled with treasures perilously close to Florida's shores.

While in port, the ships decks will be open to public visits. Visitors will have the chance to learn about the history that began 500 years ago while admiring the craftsmanship and grandeur of these galleons that reached Florida's coast centuries ago.

Information and tickets for El Galeón are available at www.vivaflorida.org. The ship will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the St. Augustine City Marina. Tickets are $8 for children age 12 and under and $15 for adults.

Schedule in Florida:       April 15 - June 3

Miami                              April 15-28  (12 days)

Cape Canaveral                May 1-12  (12 days)

Fort Lauderdale                May 14-19  (6 days)

St. Augustine                   May 23-June 3  (12 days)

For media assistance regarding El Galeon information and its Florida port itinerary, contact: 

Manuel Minero, Fundacion Nao Victoria

Email: mminero@fundacionnaovictoria.org Mobile: 0017874664964

For media assistance regarding stories about Viva Florida 500, contact:

Laura Cassels, VISIT FLORIDA

Email: lcassles@VISITFLORIDA.org  Phone: 850-205-3839

or

Pam Forrester, VISIT FLORIDA

Email: pforrester@VISITFLORIDA.org  Phone: 850-205-3827

Explore Viva Florida 500 story ideas at VISIT FLORIDA Viva 500 press room.

ABOUT VIVA FLORIDA: 
Viva Florida 500 is a statewide initiative led by the Florida Department of State, under the leadership of Governor Rick Scott, to highlight 500 years of historic people, places and events in present-day Florida since the arrival of Juan Ponce de León to the land he named La Florida in 1513. While Florida's Native American heritage dates back more than 12,000 years, Spain's claim in 1513 began a new era. 2013 marks 500 years of history and diverse cultural heritage in Florida - a claim no other state in America can make - and Viva Florida 500 promotes the place where the world's cultures began to unite and transform into the great nation we know today as the United States of America.  The Viva Florida 500 commemoration is ongoing throughout 2013, and includes hundreds of events statewide. The goal is to promote 500 years of Florida's history - its people, places and cultural achievements - and this important milestone in
American and Florida history. For more information, visit www.VivaFlorida.org

ABOUT VISIT FLORIDA:

As the Sunshine State's No. 1 industry, tourism was responsible for welcoming 89.3 million visitors in 2012 who spent $71.8 billion, generating 23 percent of the state's sales tax revenue and employing more than one million Floridians.  For every $1 spent on tourism marketing, VISIT FLORIDA - the state's official tourism marketing corporation -
generates more than $258 in tourism spending and $15 in new sales tax collections, paid by visitors, not residents. VISIT FLORIDA promotes tourism to Florida through sales, advertising, promotions, public relations and visitor
services programs. As a public/private partnership, VISIT FLORIDA serves nearly 12,000 tourism industry businesses, including 2,700 invested Partners, 8,900 web affiliates and major strategic alliance partnerships with Disney  Destinations, Dollar Rent A Car, The Hertz Corporation, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and Universal Orlando. To learn more about VISIT FLORIDA, please go to www.VISITFLORIDA.org  or follow our corporate blog at  www.SunshineMatters.org.  

ABOUT FLORIDA'S HISTORIC COAST: 

Located midway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida's Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra Beach, 42 miles of pristine, Atlantic beaches - the same beaches
that greeted Ponce de Leon in 1513 when he discovered and named La Florida, an area whose boundaries encompassed what would later become the eastern United States. For more information on events, activities, holiday getaway and vacation opportunities in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches, go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com,  become a fan on Facebook (St. Augustine, Florida) or call 1.800.653.2489.


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