c1/65 Santa Maria CaravelART 22411N Artesania Latina 1 65 Santa Maria Caravel 1492 HISTORY OF THE SANTA MARIA NAO: WRONGLY CALLED CARAVEL Yes, it is possibly the most important ship in history because it was the one where Christopher Columbus was when he discovered America at the end of the fifteenth century, specifically, in 1492. Santa Maria Nao, wrongly called 'caravel' the other smaller two boats were really caravels, La Nia and La Pinta , although the three ships were