Page 116 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

114  HA V ANA AREA B Y AREA

Castillo del Morro, situated on a rocky headland at the entrance to the bay of Havana
3 Castillo del Morro The original lighthouse on the spot where the British opened
“Morrillo”, the highest point of a breach in 1762, allowing them
Carretera de la Cabaña, Habana del
Este. Tel 7862 0617. Open 9am– the hill, was rebuilt several to take the Morro and all of
6pm daily. & 8 0 = ( times, until General Leopoldo Havana after a 40­day siege.
O’Donnell ordered a new one On the northern side of the
Construction of this fortress, to be built in 1845. This still complex is the Plataforma de
which was designed by the stands today. It is made of la Reina, with defence walls and
Italian military architect stone, and has its original lamp, a flight of steps leading to the
Giovanni Bautista Antonelli, the rays of which shine for a upper terrace. From here visitors
began in 1589 at the radius of 30 km (20 miles). can gain an overall view of
request of the Today the fortress and the fortress.
governor, Juan de the neighbouring La
Texeda. The function Cabaña fortification 4 San Carlos de La
of the Castillo de los (see below) form the
Tres Reyes del Morro Parque Histórico- Cabaña
(its full title) was to Militar Morro Carretera de la Cabaña, Habana del
detect the approach Cabaña. Many tourists Este. Tel 7862 0617. Open 9am–
of any enemy (pirates and locals come 10pm daily. & - 0
especially). Various here to admire
treasures of the The old lamp in the the outlook, as the After the British conquest of
New World were Morro lighthouse fortress affords a Havana in 1762, it was 11
regularly concen­ magnificent view months before the Spaniards
trated in the port when ships of the city and port of Havana. regained the capital. The
were docked in Cuba on their Access to the castles is bitter experience of foreign
voyage to Spain, and it was through an impressive gallery, occupation convinced them
necessary to protect them. where plaques indicate the of the need to fortify the hill
Havana’s Defences Havana was the most important port in the New
World in the 1700s. It was a highly prized target
for enemies and pirates because of its extremely
Fuerte favourable strategic position in the Caribbean,
de Cojímar
and it was also the most fortified city in any
Castillo EASTERN Spanish colony. Beyond the maritime canal
del Morro HAVANA
Castillo de San Carlos affording access to the Bay of Havana were the
San Salvador de La Cabaña two large fortresses of Morro and Cabaña. These
de la Punta
Castillo de two, together with the castles of Real Fuerza,
la Real Fuerza
Punta, Atarés and Príncipe and the city walls,
constituted for centuries the city’s impressive
Fuerte de Bay of Havana
Santa Dorotea defence and attack system. From the outlying
de Luna Castillo
en La Chorrera de Atarés forts of Cojímar and La Chorrera, to the east
and west respectively, any enemy approach
could be sighted.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p258 and p272
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