Marín. Naval and Military School. Museum

About this heritage

The Marín naval and military school arose due to the need to protect the overseas possessions and the commercial traffic generated with the entire peninsula.

King Felipe V was aware that he needed a powerful army but also capable and prepared men to lead the army.

It was in 1717 when the Marine Guards Academy was founded in Cadiz, the institution changed headquarters over the years and, it was not until 1938 when it was decided to relocate it in Marín, his choice was due to the ideal conditions of the estuary for navigation practices. At the end of the war, it began the work on the Naval Shooting School, which would eventually become the current Naval and Military School, inaugurated on August 15, 1943.

Since its foundation, the naval museum counted with the great contributions made by the Mendoza Babiano sisters (grandnieces of Méndez Núñez), the Archaeological Society, the “Gremio de Mareantes” (Sailor´s guild) and the donations of Casto Sampedro and other benefactors, who wanted Pontevedra to remember its communion with the sea.

Old models of famous ships, documents, books, paintings, engravings, furniture, navigation instruments, flags, weapons, remains of sunken ships, photographs, decorations, uniforms and other personal belongings, exotic souvenirs from faraway lands that long time ago were Spanish, can be seen.

To learn more

Felipe´s already-known need of an Army capable of guaranteeing the maritime traffic, led Patiño to create a Marine Guards Academy. As we already mentioned, its first location was Cadiz.

The Academy admission was reserved to the nobility, although this rule was not absolutely rigid, as it opened an exceptional way for sailors of proven worth, even if they were not of noble blood. This requirement was annulled in 1824. A theoretical and practical part were studied in the ships. It was also necessary to pass an examination of the four rules and not exceed the age of 18, something that on more than one occasion was overlooked.

We must have in mind that, at this time, the Bourbon empire (1713-1806) with Felipe V as king of the house, was forced to give up its European territories, but maintained the overseas empire. Spain turned Cadiz into the only trading port with the Americas. There were regular routes between Cadiz, Havana and Puerto Rico, and longer ones with Río de la Plata.

In the museum you can visit different rooms related to the Navy that will make the visit very interesting thanks to the Navy´s origin room, the sailors and navigators room, the Méndez Núñez room and the representation of the Frigate Numancia Chamber.

This museum is located in the Fernández Lopez Pasantería building, 2-12, in Pontevedra.

To know it better

In Pontevedra, the City Council of Marín has been directly related to the sea for many years. In 1943 the Naval and Military School, previously located in Cadiz, was relocated to this municipality. From this moment, Marín became one of the favourite destinations for people who wanted to train to become future officers of the Spanish Army. At this school, officers receive moral, military, marine, scientific and technical training to be carried out on ships. In fact, Your Majesty King Felipe VI and his father, King Emeritus Juan Carlos I, undertook some their military training in this school.

Marín was known as “San Xiao de Ancorados” due to the ships that anchored around it. This seafaring village is located in the Pontevedra estuary, in the area known as Rías Baixas. Thanks to this location, Marín port has quality sea-products as Norway lobster, sole, European bass, turbot, cuttlefish, octopus, sardines, spider crabs, crabs or clams, among others.