La Santa María (The Saint Mary), alternatively La Gallega, was the largest of the three ships used by Christopher Columbus in his first voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492, the others being the Niña and the Pinta. It was also used to explore the Madeira Islands (Madeira and Porto Santo).

This replica was built by Rob Wijntje, a native Dutchman having made Madeira to his and his family’s home. In July ‘97 he started the construction together with 8 locals in the fishing village Câmara de Lobos. Today’s ‘Santa Maria’ is 22 meters long, has 3 masts, the tallest of which is 16 meters high, and is built entirely of mahogany.