El Vaporcito de El Puerto

El Vaporcito is a motor ship resting at Muelle de Las Galeras in El Puerto de Santa María, serving as a landmark of regional maritime history. Originally known as the Adriano III, it provided regular ferry connections across the Bay of Cádiz before becoming a stationary monument.

The vessel commenced operations in 1955 and ran daily routes across the bay for over half a century before an accident caused it to sink in 2011. Its recovery and preservation transformed it into a symbol of an important era in regional maritime transport.

The vessel earned recognition as a Cultural Heritage Site in 2001 and remains anchored in local memory as a symbol of the maritime connection between port communities. It represents decades of everyday travel that shaped how people moved across the bay.

The vessel sits at Muelle de Las Galeras and is visible from the waterfront, making it easy to locate and view from the dock area. Access is straightforward on foot from the town center, and the site remains open to visitors who wish to see the ship from the outside.

The ship spent 28 days underwater before being salvaged, and this dramatic rescue helped establish it as a contemporary monument in public memory. This unusual path to becoming a landmark makes the site memorable for visitors, as few monuments achieve their significance through such dramatic circumstances.

Location: El Puerto de Santa María

GPS coordinates: 36.59144,-6.22901

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:40