A replica of the first ship to sail around the world will be making its way to Weymouth this month.

The Nao Victoria will visit and dock at the Visitors Pontoon at the harbour from Thursday, June 22 to Sunday, June 25 from 10am to 8.30pm.

A floating museum, visitors can explore the Spanish ship's decks and book a guided tour of the 'imposing' vessel, while some lucky enough will be able to sail on board. 

The ship is an exact replica of the vessel that between 1519 and 1522 made the first round the world race - the greatest maritime feat of all time.

This circumnavigation began in Seville in 1519 and returned to Sanlúcar de Barrameda on September 6, 1522, after sailing 42,000 miles, 22,000 miles of which was largely unknown to the crew.

On December 21, 1521, Victoria, measuring about 18 to 21 metres, sailed on from Indonesia alone because the other ships left the convoy due to lack of rations.

The ship was in terrible shape, with her sails torn and only kept afloat by continuous pumping of water - but Victoria managed to return to Spain with a shipload of spices, the value of which was greater than the cost of the entire original fleet.

Victoria was later repaired, bought by a merchant shipper and sailed for almost another fifty years before being lost on a trip from the Antilles to Seville in about 1570.

The replica, built in 1992, owned by the Nao Victoria Foundation in Spain and follows the visit of a 17th century Spanish tall ship replica to Weymouth back in May.

Tickets to climb aboard the ship are available to purchase now at www.fundacionnaovictoria.org or can be bought at the harbour. 

Prices are £8 for adults, £4 for children aged five-10 years, £20 for families (two adults and up to three children aged five to 10). Children under five go free. 

Guided tours can be booked by emailing ecampos@fundacionnaovictoria.org, while those interested in sailing on the ship should visit www.tallshipexperience.com