The Castillo de la Real Fuerza is one of Latin America’s most beautiful castles. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982.
Castillo de la Real Fuerza History
Construction of the castle started in 1555 and by 1577 it was completed. This makes the Real Fuerza castle the oldest Spanish stone fortress in Latin America.
The Castle of the Royal Force was primarily constructed to defend against pirate attacks but soon became the official residence of the Governor of Havana.
The historic monument is most famous for its watchtower (added in 1634 and now a symbol of Havana city), adorned with a bronze statuette in the shape of a woman (replica of La Giraldilla of the Seville Cathedral, Spain) that is used as a weather vane.
The fortress’s exterior consists of a square segregated into nine equal sections with four regular bastions reminiscent of Italian and French Renaissance architecture and a pit with a perimetral wall.
Visitor Information
The interior of the castle hosts some museums and a café. The most interesting museum of all is the Museum de la Ceramica, a museum of pottery. It is open daily and the entrance fee is $1.
The castle also hosts the Cuban Maritime Museum which is also worth a visit.
Castillo de la Real Fuerza Location
Castillo de la Real Fuerza Address: O’Reilly, Havana, Cuba. Get help with directions using the map provided below: