LOOK: Maritime heritage museum Museo del Galeón opens in Pasay City
Fancy everything about maritime history? Museo del Galeón has officially opened at SM Mall of Asia, one of the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia.
The museum, a brainchild of the late Edgardo Angara, is the country’s first immersive maritime heritage museum. It aims to bring visitors closer to an important chapter of Philippine history through its engaging galleries, interactive exhibits, and stories of trade, travel, and Filipino ingenuity.
One of the museum's highlights is the full-scale replica of the Galeón Espíritu Santo, a 17th-century galleon originally constructed in Cavite in 1603.
This ship took part in the Manila–Acapulco trade from 1603 to 1618, navigating the route identified by Andrés de Urdaneta in 1565, known as El Tornaviaje.
Per its website, over more than 250 years of the galleon trade, a total of 181 vessels crossed the Pacific between Manila and Acapulco.
The dome-shaped museum also houses a rich collection of artifacts and relics that vividly depict life at sea during the galleon trade era, giving insight into the daily experiences of sailors and passengers.
It also features religious images that reflect the strong spiritual influences that accompanied these historic voyages.
Tickets cost P675 for adults and P375 for children taller than two feet. The admission fee for students from private schools is P375, while those from public schools pay P275, the same rate as teachers.
Senior citizens and persons with disabilities are entitled to discounted rates. Buy your tickets in advance via this link or onsite.
Museo del Galeón is located at the SM Mall of Asia and is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
