Castillo de la Real Fuerza de La Habana (16th century)
By royal command, an impregnable fortress was erected for defending Havana from pirate attacks. Forced labour was used in its construction: the town council agreed to summon by public announcement all men 'whether of mixed race, blacks or mulattos who had no owners to come and work in the construction of the fortress under penalty of ten pesos or one hundred lashes'. It has a typical Renaissance ground plan manifestly influenced by those being built in Spain during the Medieval Ages. Its structure is composed of thick walls with large embrasures; a drawbridge was used to separate the fortress from the defensive ditch that surrounded the castle and ran alongside the rocks and the sea. During the Spanish conquest and colonization of Terra Firma, this was the place where the Crown's gold was deposited on transit to the metropolis. After it was completed, a floor was added to accommodate the Captain General. In 1632, a bell tower was erected and two years later it was crowned by La Giraldilla, by artist Jerónimo Martínez Pinzón, a weathervane in the form of a woman thought to be Dona Inés de Bobadilla, Governor of Cuba and wife of explorer Hernando de Soto. Seville in Spain had a Christianized vane-given that it was of Moorish origin-called La Giralda and it is very probable that La Giraldilla is a replica of the one in Seville, which also served to welcome incoming boats. Whatever the story behind it, La Giraldilla has come to symbolize the city of Havana.
In the belief that Havana was inadequately protected, towards the end of the 16th century, the King of Spain ordered the construction on both sides to the entrance of the Bay of two fortifications which would be joined by a chain to block the entrance. The famous English corsair, Francis Drake was in the West Indies and it was necessary to secure the meeting point of the fleets on their way to Spain with their valuable cargoes. Italian Juan Bautista Antonelli, one of the best military engineers of the Spanish Empire, was summoned to Havana to design and oversee the construction of the Los Tres Santos Reyes del Morro and San Salvador de La Punta on the other side of the bay. The fortifications system would be completed in the 17th century with the construction of towers: Torreón de La Chorrera, Torreón de Cojímar and Torreón de San Lázaro, together with the construction of the city walls which were then begun. Sir Francis Drake never attacked the city, yet these castles and fortresses may be considered monuments to his memory.
By royal command, an impregnable fortress was erected for defending Havana from pirate attacks. Forced labour was used in its construction: the town council agreed to summon by public announcement all men 'whether of mixed race, blacks or mulattos who had no owners to come and work in the construction of the fortress under penalty of ten pesos or one hundred lashes'. It has a typical Renaissance ground plan manifestly influenced by those being built in Spain during the Medieval Ages. Its structure is composed of thick walls with large embrasures; a drawbridge was used to separate the fortress from the defensive ditch that surrounded the castle and ran alongside the rocks and the sea. During the Spanish conquest and colonization of Terra Firma, this was the place where the Crown's gold was deposited on transit to the metropolis. After it was completed, a floor was added to accommodate the Captain General. In 1632, a bell tower was erected and two years later it was crowned by La Giraldilla, by artist Jerónimo Martínez Pinzón, a weathervane in the form of a woman thought to be Dona Inés de Bobadilla, Governor of Cuba and wife of explorer Hernando de Soto. Seville in Spain had a Christianized vane-given that it was of Moorish origin-called La Giralda and it is very probable that La Giraldilla is a replica of the one in Seville, which also served to welcome incoming boats. Whatever the story behind it, La Giraldilla has come to symbolize the city of Havana.
In the belief that Havana was inadequately protected, towards the end of the 16th century, the King of Spain ordered the construction on both sides to the entrance of the Bay of two fortifications which would be joined by a chain to block the entrance. The famous English corsair, Francis Drake was in the West Indies and it was necessary to secure the meeting point of the fleets on their way to Spain with their valuable cargoes. Italian Juan Bautista Antonelli, one of the best military engineers of the Spanish Empire, was summoned to Havana to design and oversee the construction of the Los Tres Santos Reyes del Morro and San Salvador de La Punta on the other side of the bay. The fortifications system would be completed in the 17th century with the construction of towers: Torreón de La Chorrera, Torreón de Cojímar and Torreón de San Lázaro, together with the construction of the city walls which were then begun. Sir Francis Drake never attacked the city, yet these castles and fortresses may be considered monuments to his memory.
Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro and Castillo de San Salvador de La Punta (late 16th century and early 17th century)
The Tres Reyes del Morro, or simply El Morro, is situated atop a rocky outcrop on the eastern side of the bay, an enviable height which dominates many miles into the sea to sight pirate ships and send out warnings to the population. San Salvador de La Punta on the western side of the entrance of the bay was built right on the rocks that led a path through terra firma towards the village. The military engineers faced two great difficulties during the building works: scarcity both of adequate building materials and human labour. Antonelli was in favour of completing both fortresses at the same time because he argued that whoever 'holds El Morro, will hold La Punta'; however, the latter was finished in a short time because it's construction was less complex, while the former took many more years to be completed. It was the Captain General Don Pedro Valdés who contributed decisively to its completion early in the 17th century. Today, the Morro-Cabaña complex is part of an exhibition park and La Punta is a site museum.
During the beginning of the 18th century, piracy had officially come to an end: in 1697, the European powers had signed the Ryswick Treaty and had agreed to fight piracy and buccaneering. However, the British took Havana in 1762 as part of a war between England and Spain. In 1763, the British returned the city to Spain in exchange for the Florida colonies. As soon as the last British left, the Governor of Havana began to repair and re-establish the city’s defensive system: the Walls that enclosed the city were completed and the Fuerte de Atarés, the Castillo del Príncipe and the Fortaleza de San Carlos de La Cabaña—the largest in America at that time—were erected. By the end of the centur, Havana was one of the most fortified harbours in the world, but the truth is that it was never attacked again.
The Tres Reyes del Morro, or simply El Morro, is situated atop a rocky outcrop on the eastern side of the bay, an enviable height which dominates many miles into the sea to sight pirate ships and send out warnings to the population. San Salvador de La Punta on the western side of the entrance of the bay was built right on the rocks that led a path through terra firma towards the village. The military engineers faced two great difficulties during the building works: scarcity both of adequate building materials and human labour. Antonelli was in favour of completing both fortresses at the same time because he argued that whoever 'holds El Morro, will hold La Punta'; however, the latter was finished in a short time because it's construction was less complex, while the former took many more years to be completed. It was the Captain General Don Pedro Valdés who contributed decisively to its completion early in the 17th century. Today, the Morro-Cabaña complex is part of an exhibition park and La Punta is a site museum.
During the beginning of the 18th century, piracy had officially come to an end: in 1697, the European powers had signed the Ryswick Treaty and had agreed to fight piracy and buccaneering. However, the British took Havana in 1762 as part of a war between England and Spain. In 1763, the British returned the city to Spain in exchange for the Florida colonies. As soon as the last British left, the Governor of Havana began to repair and re-establish the city’s defensive system: the Walls that enclosed the city were completed and the Fuerte de Atarés, the Castillo del Príncipe and the Fortaleza de San Carlos de La Cabaña—the largest in America at that time—were erected. By the end of the centur, Havana was one of the most fortified harbours in the world, but the truth is that it was never attacked again.
Fortaleza de San Carlos de La Cabaña (18th century)
Built in 1889 thanks to funds provided by the heirs of Tomás Terry Adams in accordance to his express wish, the theatre was restored in 1965 and declared National Monument in 1978. From an architectural point of view, it is a typical example of Cuban eclecticism, exhibiting elements of neoclassicism, art nouveau, the traditional plan of Italian theatres, with stained-glass windows, French blinds?perhaps as a tribute to the founders of the city?and furniture displaying American influence. Since its opening in 1890, distinguished musicians, playwrights, singers and dancers from Cuba and abroad have performed here: Ernesto Lecuona, Alicia Alonso, Rita Montaner, Abelardo Estorino, Jorge Luis Prats, Sarah Bernhardt, Enrico Caruso and Joan Manuel Serrat, just to name a few. Its varied program includes local theatre companies and soloists, in addition to seasons and special appearances by guest performers from all over Cuba.
Built in 1889 thanks to funds provided by the heirs of Tomás Terry Adams in accordance to his express wish, the theatre was restored in 1965 and declared National Monument in 1978. From an architectural point of view, it is a typical example of Cuban eclecticism, exhibiting elements of neoclassicism, art nouveau, the traditional plan of Italian theatres, with stained-glass windows, French blinds?perhaps as a tribute to the founders of the city?and furniture displaying American influence. Since its opening in 1890, distinguished musicians, playwrights, singers and dancers from Cuba and abroad have performed here: Ernesto Lecuona, Alicia Alonso, Rita Montaner, Abelardo Estorino, Jorge Luis Prats, Sarah Bernhardt, Enrico Caruso and Joan Manuel Serrat, just to name a few. Its varied program includes local theatre companies and soloists, in addition to seasons and special appearances by guest performers from all over Cuba.
