San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress, Colonial military fortress in Havana, Cuba
The San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress extends 700 meters along the eastern ridge of Havana harbor, covering 10 hectares with thick defensive walls and bastions.
King Carlos III of Spain ordered the construction of this fortress between 1763 and 1774 after British forces captured Havana during their invasion in 1762.
The fortress contains the Museo de Fortificaciones y Armas, which exhibits an extensive collection of historical weapons from ancient bows to colonial-era cannons.
Visitors can access multiple levels of the fortress, including military barracks, artillery storage areas, and observation points that provide views across Havana Bay.
Every evening at 9 PM, performers in 18th-century military uniforms conduct the cañonazo ceremony, firing a cannon over the harbor following historical tradition.
Location: Havana
Inception: 1762
Part of: Old Havana, Old Havana and its Fortification System
GPS coordinates: 23.14722,-82.35000
Latest update: May 27, 2025 09:51
The monuments in central Havana showcase Spanish colonial military, religious, and civil architecture. The 16th-century fortifications protect the port, while baroque religious buildings and neoclassical palaces line the cobbled squares. Museums, theaters, and cultural centers occupy former administrative and industrial buildings.
Morro Castle
770 m
Granma
1 km
Museum of the Revolution
921 m
Havana Cathedral
679 m
Christ of Havana
630 m
Bacardi Building
1.2 km
Castillo de la Real Fuerza
693 m
National Museum of Fine Arts of Cuba
1.1 km
Palacio de los Capitanes Generales
809 m
San Salvador de la Punta Fortress
797 m
El Templete
755 m
Produce Exchange Building
1 km
Old Town Square
1.2 km
Abdallah Mosque
882 m
Faro Castillo del Morro
763 m
Palacio del Segundo Cabo
748 m
Bank of Nova Scotia Building, Havana
873 m
Royal Bank of Canada building
1 km
Plaza de Arms
780 m
San Francisco Square
1.1 km
Museo Nacional de Historia Natural Cubana
1.1 km
Neptune Fountain
533 m
Students' Monument
821 m
Greek Orthodox churches in Cuba
1.2 km
Juan Clemente Zenea Monument
889 m
Monument to José de la Luz y Caballero
564 m
Custom House for the Port of Havana
1.2 km
Obispo
1 kmReviews
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