Fortín de Heredia, Military fortification tower in Heredia, Costa Rica

Fortín de Heredia is a military tower standing approximately 13 meters tall with a quadrangular base, cylindrical middle, and octagonal top section. Located at the intersection of central streets, it forms a distinctive landmark in the town center.

This tower was built in 1876 under Governor Fadrique Gutierrez as part of a broader military defense plan. The original plan called for four towers around the old town hall, though only this structure was ultimately constructed.

The structure shows how raw stone, clay, lime, and brick were combined using construction methods typical of late 19th-century Costa Rica. These building techniques reflect the craftsmanship available at that time in the region.

The tower stands at the crossing of the central street and avenue, diagonally across from the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Its south side opens onto an amphitheater with gardens, and the 2009 restoration by architects Ibo Bonilla and Erick Chaves adapted the structure for public visits as part of the surrounding urban space.

The gun ports of the tower widen toward the outside, a detail much debated: some argue it would have let snipers hit soldiers inside, while others say it allowed better movement within. The top of the tower has no battlements to shield defenders.