During the 1560s, Philip II ordered the construction of 50 new galleys for operations in the Mediterranean. The largest, the Real , was built in the Barcelona shipyards in 1568. Badly damaged in the Battle of Lepanto, she sank on her way back to Messina.
In addition to the normal crew (20 to 30 men including sailors, carpenters or even doctors), an ordinary war galley carried a combat force of a hundred soldiers. It is believed, however, that Don Juan of Austria's royal galley carried 300 soldiers and a hundred volunteer knights.
Unlike ordinary galleys, which had two rows of 24 oars, the Real had 59 oars. All were operated by four rowers, making a total of 236 rowers who constituted the “cow”. Chained to benches, galley slaves traveled in hellish conditions. In combat, they were totally exposed to enemy fire. Heavy artillery was placed on the bows of ships. The guns could not turn, it was necessary to aim by directing the boat. On the rest of the galley, we placed the mobile artillery pieces, like the falcons firing medium-sized cannonballs.
To celebrate 400 years of Lepanto, the Maritime Museum of Barcelona built a replica of the Real . Based on a meticulous study of documents, the work lasted six years and required the labor of 17 shipwrights. The sumptuous original decoration of the galley was also reproduced, in particular at the level of the quarterdeck.