Castillo de San Cristóbal, 16th century castle in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Castillo de San Cristóbal is a square-shaped fortress with four corner bastions built from stone blocks at the base and brick masonry above. The structure sits on Santa Cruz Bay and was designed to command and defend the harbor entrance.
Construction of this defensive fortress began in 1575 under Governor Alvarez de Fonseca and became operational in January 1577. It was built to meet the growing threat of pirate attacks on the harbor.
The fortress served as a residence and administrative center for military governors who ruled the island from this stronghold. Visitors can see the spaces that reveal how central this place was to local power and control.
The remaining castle walls and exhibitions are located beneath Plaza de Espana, where visitors learn about the island's defensive systems. Wear comfortable shoes as access involves stairs and narrow passages to navigate the underground galleries.
The most prominent display piece is an old cannon known as the Tiger Cannon, which was fired in 1797 during an attack on the harbor. The shot caused an injury that resulted in a British Admiral losing his arm.
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