Spain's National Exhibition of Ship Building

Spain's National Exhibition of Ship Building (Exponav) is a maritime museum in Ferrol, in the Province of A Coruña, in the Galicia region of northwest Spain. Its location is no coincidence — since the 18th century, Ferrol has been one of the main bases of the Spanish Navy, a city where warships for the crown were designed and built.

What is Exponav about?

The museum is dedicated to the craft of shipbuilding — traditional hull-construction techniques, tools, and blueprints, alongside ship models at various scales. It's a place where you can see how timber, iron, and the labor of thousands of shipwrights turned into vessels that sailed out from the Galician coast onto the ocean. The exhibition pairs technical detail (how hulls were built, which timber was used, how a project moved from drawing board to launch) with historical context — Ferrol's role as a naval arsenal city during the Bourbon reforms and beyond.

How do you get to Ferrol?

Ferrol sits at the northern edge of Galicia, on a bay known for its deep, naturally sheltered harbor. The easiest way to arrive is by train or bus from A Coruña — the trip takes roughly an hour and passes through the rolling landscape typical of the Galician coastline. Travelers with a car can pair a visit to Ferrol with the Rías Altas, the rugged, scenic inlets north of the city. The museum itself sits within the historic core of Ferrol, close to the old naval arsenal grounds, so it's best explored on foot as part of a walk through the city center.

What will you see inside?

The core of the exhibition is its collection of ship models — from galleons to more modern vessels — tracing the evolution of Spanish naval shipbuilding across the centuries. These are accompanied by shipyard tools, documents, and construction plans that explain what work in a naval yard actually looked like during the era when Ferrol was one of Spain's key centers for building warships. It's a rewarding stop both for maritime-history enthusiasts and for families looking for a concrete, hands-on subject to explore — model ships tend to capture attention regardless of age.

When is the best time to visit?

Ferrol isn't a typical tourist resort, and that has its upsides — outside peak season the city is quiet, and the museum can be visited without crowds. Galicia's climate makes year-round visits feasible, though spring and early autumn offer the most stable weather for combining the museum with a walk through the historic district and waterfront.

What pairs well with a visit?

Ferrol carries a strong maritime identity, and the museum visit is worth rounding out with a walk through the old town and around the former arsenal, where traces of the city's shipbuilding heyday are still visible. It's a natural complement to the exhibition itself — the theory inside the museum meets the real port architecture just outside its doors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Exponav different from a typical maritime museum? It focuses specifically on the shipbuilding process itself — construction techniques, tools, and blueprints — rather than broader seafaring or naval-battle exhibits.

Is it worth visiting with children? Yes. The ship models at different scales are visually engaging and easy to appreciate even without prior knowledge of naval history.

How much time should you plan for a visit? The exhibition allows for an unhurried pace, whether you want a quick pass through or a longer stop to study the models and plans in detail.

Why is the museum located in Ferrol specifically? Since the 18th century, the city has served as one of the main bases of the Spanish Navy, making it a natural home for a museum dedicated to naval shipbuilding.