Fortaleza San Felipe, 16th-century coastal castle and military museum in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Fortaleza San Felipe is a stone fortress sitting on a hill at Puntilla del Malecón with four round towers positioned at the corners. Inside, the structure houses military equipment, weapons, and uniforms from different periods of history.
The fortress was built in 1564 under orders from Spain's King Philip II to defend the port against pirates and enemy ships. This reveals how important Puerto Plata was as a trading center for Spanish colonial power.
The fort displays weapons, uniforms, and military gear that show how soldiers lived and worked in this place over centuries. Walking through reveals how people adapted their defenses and strategies through different eras.
You can walk around the exterior walls to view the round towers from different angles, or explore the interior rooms where collections are displayed. Access to the site is straightforward and there are paths that let you move freely across the grounds.
In the central courtyard sits a recessed area with an opening that once functioned as a hidden trap for intruders crossing the drawbridge, complete with sharpened stakes inside. This concealed defense method reveals the ingenuity of military engineers from that era.
Location: Puerto Plata
Inception: 1965
GPS coordinates: 19.80389,-70.69583
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:03
The Dominican Republic draws photographers with its range of landscapes and subjects. Along the coast, long stretches of sand beaches appear, some with calm water, others with waves that attract surfers. Inland, trails lead to waterfalls that drop over rocks into natural pools, while caves and underground lakes offer unexpected finds. Colonial buildings in Santo Domingo display 16th-century architecture, with stone churches, monastery ruins, and fortresses that stand along harbor walls. Places in the collection include the Basilica of Santa Maria la Menor, the Dominican Convent, and Fortaleza San Felipe. Beaches like Bavaro, Macao, and Playa Rincon provide different coastal views, while Los Haitises National Park shows mangrove forests and limestone formations. Waterfalls such as El Limon and the 27 Charcos de Damajagua sit within forested areas. Saona and Cayo Arena are small islands with shallow water. Lago Enriquillo, a saltwater lake below sea level, lies in a dry setting near the Haitian border. These locations give a sense of the natural and built environments across the island.
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