Christopher Columbus's flagship, the Santa Maria, was a caravel. This type of vessel was used by the major explorers of the 15th and 16th centuries, including Ferdinand Magellan and Bartolomeu Dias. No caravel has been preserved and available for view now,although full-size replicas of the Santa Maria have been built in recent years. The caravel came from the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It was two -decked, rigged on two masts and later on three masts. Square sales were used on the forward mast(s).