Home
Directory
Destinations
Maps
Reports
Bookings
Español Español
  You are from:  Estados Unidos de America(select your country)
        My account   
Search
Questions?
+1 (833) 685-0373
Toll-Free

Bookings
Lodging
Cars
Flights
Envíos de Paquetería a Cuba
Directory
Accommodation
Top list
Attractions
Where to shop
Embassies
General information
Marinas
Where to dine
Health
Transportation
Nightlife
TOOLS
Distancies calculator
Travelers' Tips


We accept
We accept VISA and MasterCard credit cards.

Weekly report on Cuba's tourism industry
Search in DTCNews 
  ReportsAttractions |  Services |  Destinations |  Culture |  Health |  General
  NewsTourism |  Business |  Health |  Sports |  Culture
Cuba: The Attraction of Its Fortresses

Cuba, whose Spanish colonial past is present in all aspects of its daily life, has in its many fortresses a historic heritage that attracts both Cuban and foreign tourists.

The privileged geographic location of the island nation, in the middle of the Caribbean Sea and amid major maritime routes, forced Spanish authorities to build a strong network of fortifications, many of which have survived the passage of time and can be visited today, although they have lost their military value.

Cuba's military development was boosted by the Spanish court's decision to turn the port of Havana into a hub for treasure-laden ships departing from the New World to the metropolis.

Therefore, the Spanish monarchs decided to build a system of fortifications to protect the wealth of the Crown and persuade corsairs and pirates from attacking the island, especially its capital.

One of the most outstanding fortresses from that period is the Castle of the Three Kings of Morro, which was designed by Italian military engineer Juan Bautista Antonelli.

It is a Renaissance fortress in the shape of an irregular polygon with three powerful bastions overlooking the bay, the entry to the port and the city. The Morro castle was later complemented by the Fortress of La Cabaña.

Interior view of El Morro Castle.
La Cabaña Fortress
View of the Wall. Fragment

The famous city Walls were built in 1740, thus the custom of shooting a cannon before closing the nine gates to Havana, a tradition that has remained until today.

Day after day, at nine pm, the guards at the fortress fired the cannons to warn Havana dwellers that it was time to seek shelter within the walls and avoid traveling in the thick woods surrounding the city.

Defensive works such as the San Lázaro Tower and La Punta Fortress complemented Havana's protective system, in addition to minor structures built throughout the country, mainly along the coastline, which was vulnerable to attacks by corsairs and pirates.

The Castle of San Pedro de la Roca – also known as Santiago de Cuba's Morro Castle – was built in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, the first capital of the country from 1515 to 1607. The fortress had little defensive impact, as its construction lasted several decades.

Santiago's Morro, La Socapa, La Avanzada and La Estrella are the largest and most complete example of European Renaissance military engineering in the Caribbean.

Within their thick walls and towers, visitors can see, in all its splendor, the imprint of military engineering developed in Italy, Spain and Cuba from the 16th to the 19th century.

RELATED SERVICES
Attractions  Accommodation  
ATTRACTIONS
Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro (Castle of the Three Kings of El Morro)
Places of Interest

Ribera este del canal de entrada a la bahía de La Habana

La Habana
Castle of San Pedro de la Roca
World Heritage Sites

Carretera de El Morro km. 8

Santiago de Cuba
De la Real Fuerza Castle
Places of Interest

Calle O´Reilly No. 2 e/ Ave. del Puerto y Tacón

La Habana
Historical-Military Park Morro-Cabaña
Places of Interest

Carretera de La Cabaña

La Habana
Museum of Piracy
Museums

Castillo San Pedro de la Roca del Morro

Santiago de Cuba
Old Villa of San Cristobal of Havana
Urban Historic Centers

La Habana Vieja

La Habana
San Carlos de la Cabaña Fort
Places of Interest

Ribera este del canal de entrada a la bahía de La Habana

La Habana
San Salvador de la Punta Castle
Places of Interest

Ave. del Puerto y Paseo del Prado

La Habana
ACCOMMODATION All services
Ambos Mundos
City

Calle Obispo No. 153 esq. a Mercaderes

La Habana
Armadores de Santander
City

Calle Luz No. 4 esq. a San Pedro

La Habana
Beltrán de Santa Cruz
City

Calle San Ignacio No. 411 e/ Muralla y Sol

La Habana
Brisas Sierra Mar - Los Galeones
Beach

Carretera Chivirico Km 60

Santiago de Cuba
Caribbean
City

Paseo del Prado No. 164 e/ Colón y Refugio

La Habana
Casa Granda
City

Calle Heredia No. 201 e/ San Pedro y San Félix

Santiago de Cuba
Conde de Villanueva
City

Calle Mercaderes No. 202 e/ Lamparilla y Amargura

La Habana
El Comendador
City

Calle Obrapía No. 55 esq. a Baratillo

La Habana
El Mesón de la Flota
City

Calle Mercaderes e/ Amargura y Teniente Rey

La Habana
Florida
City

Calle Obispo esq. a Cuba

La Habana
Iberostar Parque Central
City

Calle Neptuno e/ Paseo del Prado y Zulueta

La Habana
Inglaterra
City

Paseo del Prado No. 416 e/ San Rafael y San Miguel

La Habana
La Gran Piedra
Nature

Carretera de La Gran Piedra Km 14

Santiago de Cuba
Las Américas
City

Ave. de Las Américas y General Cebreco

Santiago de Cuba
Los Frailes
City

Calle Teniente Rey No. 8 e/ Mercaderes y Oficios

La Habana
Meliá Santiago
City

Ave. de las Américas y M

Santiago de Cuba
Palacio O´Farrill
City

Calle Cuba No. 102-108 esq. a Chacón

La Habana
Palacio San Miguel
City

Calle Cuba No. 52 esq. a Peña Pobre

La Habana
Park View
City

Calle Colón esq. a Morro

La Habana
Plaza
City

Calle Ignacio Agramonte No. 267

La Habana
Rancho Club
City

Carretera Central km. 41.5, Alturas de Quintero

Santiago de Cuba
Raquel
City

Calle Amargura esq. a San Ignacio

La Habana
San Juan
City

Carretera a Siboney Km 4.5

Santiago de Cuba
Santa Isabel
City

Calle Baratillo No. 9 e/ Obispo y Narciso López

La Habana
Saratoga
City

Paseo del Prado No. 603 esquina a Dragones

La Habana
Sevilla
City

Calle Trocadero No. 55 e/ Prado y Zulueta

La Habana
Tejadillo
City

Calle Tejadillo No. 12 esq. a San Ignacio

La Habana
Telégrafo
City

Paseo del Prado No. 408 esq. a Neptuno

La Habana
Valencia
City

Calle Oficios No. 53 esq. a Obrapía

La Habana
Villa Gaviota Santiago de Cuba
City

Ave. Manduley No. 502 e/ 19 y 21, Reparto Vista Alegre

Santiago de Cuba
Home | Directory | Destinations | Reports | Flights | Lodging | Cars
About us | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy
(c) 1997-2024 Vacacionar Travel, SA. All rights reserved.