Albaola Itsas Kultur Faktoria, Maritime history museum in Pasaia, Spain.
La Factoría Marítima Vasca is a maritime museum in Pasaia that functions simultaneously as a working shipyard. The spaces display traditional construction techniques and objects from shipbuilding history.
The site was a center for shipbuilding in the 16th century, where craftsmen built ocean-going vessels for whaling and trade. This tradition of craftsmanship shapes the place to this day.
The workshops here show living craft, with artisans building ships using methods handed down through generations. You can watch how this traditional skill is applied in everyday work.
The location is easy to reach on foot and sits right by the water where you can watch the work happening. It helps to check beforehand when craftsmen are active so you find the best time to visit.
A precise replica of a 16th-century whaling ship is being built here, with craftsmen using the same tools and methods as they did back then. This reconstruction shows the skills and patience that original shipbuilding required.
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