San Salvador de la Punta Fortress

San Salvador de la Punta tower

San Salvador de la Punta History

San Salvador de la Punta

San Salvador de la Punta is a remarkable fortress built between late 1590 through the middle of the 17th century to safeguard the main entranceway to the bay and harbor of Havana.

The fortress was commissioned by Felipe II and the design and construction were handled by the famous Italian engineer Juan Bautista Antonelli.

Although the fortress first served as a storehouse for weapons and artillery, it was soon connected to El Morro in 1630 via a heavy copper chain held by strong wood beams.

San Salvador de la Punta detail

The Fortress Today
The San Salvador de la Punta now houses remains of the chain mechanism, four esplanades, huge canons fixed in the rocks, a memorial park paved with scarlet ceramic tiles, and a highly distinctive but wrecked Spanish ship with heavy cargo.

The castle underwent massive restoration works in 1997 and today it shines in its true splendor. The entrance fee to the castle costs $3.

Castillo de San Salvador de la Punta Location

San Salvador de la Punta is located in Malecón, Havana, Cuba

Castillo de San Salvador de la Punta Map

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