Pascual Flores

Pascual Flores is a historic pailebote, a type of sailing vessel typical of the maritime tradition of Torrevieja, designed to transport salt across the Mediterranean and along the African coasts. Built in 1917 by the renowned shipwright Antonio Marí, known as “La Tempestad” (“The Storm”), Pascual Flores quickly became one of the leading vessels of the Torrevieja fleet, playing a significant role in the salt trade that shaped the city’s maritime history for centuries.

Over the course of her long career, the ship changed owners several times and underwent a number of structural modifications, before eventually being sold to England. In 1999, the Torrevieja City Council purchased the vessel, which was in poor condition in the port of Milford Haven, with the aim of restoring her and turning her into a symbol of the city’s maritime identity.

Between 2005 and 2008, Pascual Flores underwent a careful restoration that preserved her historic structure while returning her to operational condition. In 2020, thanks to a collaboration agreement with the Nao Victoria Foundation, the ship was further restored at the shipyards of Punta Umbría (Huelva) and returned to sailing. The project aims to promote Torrevieja’s seafaring tradition and to share the history of the pailebotes, the true carriers of Mediterranean salt.

Today, Pascual Flores is a highly versatile vessel, capable of taking part in a wide range of international events, from European maritime festivals to corporate and film productions. Each year, she sets out on a tour of major ports, promoting the tourism and cultural heritage of Torrevieja. She also serves as a floating museum, offering visitors an immersive insight into the history of sailing and the city’s maritime traditions.