Showcase 2 - A collection of Portuguese fishing boat models

An entire sailing fleet of fishing boats transported agricultural goods, flour, bran and salt on the inland sea formed by the estuary of the Tagus until the 1970s. This “straw sea” was the domain of “botes,” “varinos,” “fragata” and “falmas”, each distinguished by a particular type of decoration representing each little port. Fitted with lateen sails, and painted in bright colours, they were equipped with enormous holds. The current interest of the inhabitants of the Tagus in leisure sailing has brought these vessels back into the limelight. These boats are of the same family as “Catraia”.