Fortaleza San Felipe, 16th-century coastal castle and military museum in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
The stone fortress stands on a hill at Puntilla del Malecón, featuring four round defensive towers and a collection of historical military artifacts.
King Philip II of Spain ordered the construction of this fortress in 1564 to protect Puerto Plata's seaport from pirates and foreign naval attacks.
The museum displays extensive collections of Taino pottery, ancient coins, weapons, and military equipment from the 18th and 19th centuries.
The fortress museum operates daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with an entrance fee of 2 Dominican pesos per person.
The entrance includes a centered open shaft that contained water and spikes, forming a defensive trap for potential invaders crossing the drawbridge.
Location: Puerto Plata
Inception: 1965
GPS coordinates: 19.80389,-70.69583
Latest update: May 12, 2025 00:03
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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