XXI Muros Mira ao Mar 2026: A Sea of Speech

Traditional Boats: A Major Heritage Focus at Muros Looks to the Sea

After three intense days in which traditional boats were able to show their finest features, the vessels invited by A.C. Mar de Muros—organizer of the maritime activities of the Muros Mira ao Mar Seafaring Festival—set sail from the Muros Traditional Marina – Mardevelas back to their home ports.

In this 21st edition, a total of 23 boats (bucetas, xeiteiro boats, galleons, dornas, boats, gamelas, motorboats, racús or loros) and more than 80 crew members took part, coming from different associations affiliated with Culturmar, to whom we would like to express our sincere gratitude for their effort in contributing to this showcase of our rich, diverse, and dynamic maritime heritage.

The traditional fleet was the highlight of the opening day, greeting authorities and the many people who gathered to enjoy this spectacle, which symbolizes the historical and cultural value of our traditional boats.

In addition to sailing along the estuary and guided visits, throughout the weekend visitors to the Traditional Marina – Mardevelas were able to share their own seafaring culture through two panels containing vocabulary related to boat building and rigging, as well as another where the public shared their own maritime lexicon or expressions related to the sea. Both activities were part of the theme of this 21st edition of the festival, under the motto “A Sea of Words”.

The Muros Traditional Marina bids farewell to the visiting boats but remains open throughout the year to bring this heritage closer to all those interested in our seafaring culture and traditional navigation.

At this Traditional Marina, we will continue to enjoy the bucetas, canoes, and xeiteiro boats typical of the estuary, as well as the emblematic galeón Abelleira, a vessel built in the 1940s and therefore with a remarkable history to tell.

All this heritage, maintained through the efforts of associations and, in the case of Muros, with the support of the Town Council and the Provincial Council of A Coruña, still requires greater involvement from public institutions. In particular, stronger support is needed for the galeón Abelleira, a vessel whose size demands significant investment for its maintenance and promotion. Likewise, it is necessary to provide the Muros Traditional Marina – Mardevelas with onshore spaces where associations working in maritime culture can carry out their activities—spaces conceived as a true multipurpose cultural center focused on the seafaring culture of our town and estuary.

The Cultural Association Mar de Muros is a founding member of these seafaring culture events and regularly participates in organizational tasks as part of the Organizing Committee. It also organizes the exhibition of the traditional fleet, hosting boats and crews from various Galician locations belonging to partner associations affiliated with Culturmar, with which it maintains close collaboration. The aim of the association is to safeguard the rich maritime heritage of our estuary, as well as the culture of seafaring communities. To this end, it carries out a year-round program of activities centered on our fleet, including navigation, boat maintenance techniques, and many other initiatives.