Replica of John of Austria
Life-sized reproduction of the Royal Galley which led the squadron of the Holy League at Lepanto Battle in 7th of October 1571. This galley was built at Barcelona’s Royal shipyards in 1568. On 15th January 1568, the Viceroy of Catalonia received the order that, in Barcelona “This royal galley should be built from the finest wood that can be found, namely the pinewood of Catalonia, which is better than any other wood that can be found in Asia, Africa and Europe.” The decoration was added in Seville. In 1971, on the occasion of the fourth centenary of the battle, the Museu Marítim de Barcelona organised the reconstruction of a life-sized replica of the galley. This replica was built at the shipyard of Astilleros Cardona, advised by technical staff from the Museum. The galley is 60 m in length, with a beam measuring 6.20 m and a depth of 2.08 m. Propelled by 59 oars rowed by 236 oarsmen, it has a main mast and a foremast with a lateen rig.
astilleros cardona, s.a. (1922 – 2000)
Discover astilleros cardona, s.a., a historic Spanish shipbuilding company (founded 1922) renowned for crafting diverse vessels & the impressive replica of 'John of Austria'. Explore their legacy blending maritime engineering with artistic expression
Maritime Museum of Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain)
Explore Barcelona's maritime history at the Museu Marítim! Discover ship models, historic vessels & naval traditions within a stunning Gothic royal arsenal. A unique journey through Catalan seafaring.
About this artwork
- Title: Replica of John of Austria
- Artist: astilleros cardona, s.a.
- Format: Landscape
- Copyright status: Under copyright
- Where to see it: Maritime Museum of Barcelona
- Period: Early Modern
- Corpus context: historical reconstruction , spanish naval history
- Color palette: Dark
- Keywords: royal galley replica , museum boat display , wooden ship painting
- Color hue: Amber to Saffron
Quick Facts
- Artist: astilleros cardona, s.a.
- Dimensions: 60 m length, 6.20 m beam, 2.08 m depth
- Notable elements: 59 oars, 236 oarsmen, lateen rig
- Subject or theme: Royal Galley of the Battle of Lepanto
- Location: Museu Marítim de Barcelona


