The Gil Eannes Hospital Ship was built in Viana do Castelo in 1955 in order to support the Portuguese cod fleet that operated on the banks of Newfoundland and Greenland for decades.
Once the cod fishing fleet was deactivated, the ship was left to rot on the docks in Lisbon for many years until it was salvaged in 1998 as it was considered part of the city’s cultural heritage.
It was received with joy and celebration on the 31st of January, 1998, at the mouth of the Lima River. Once cleaned and restored, it was opened to public visitation. Today it is the city’s most visited museum.