The moat
Sloping walls over water.
Rômulo Ferreira — CC BY 2.0 · enrique1363 — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Rômulo Ferreira — CC BY 2.0 · Anagoria — CC BY 3.0 · Jan Pešula — CC0
The Castillo de la Real Fuerza, the «Castle of the Royal Force», is a bastion fort on the western side of Havana's harbour, bordering the Plaza de Armas. It is considered the oldest stone fort in the Americas and has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site «Old Havana and its Fortifications» since 1982. It stands about 240 metres in a straight line from Havana Cathedral. Work began in 1558 under the engineer Bartolomé Sánchez, the first stones were laid in 1562, and the fort was finished only in 1577. It was built to defend the city against pirates, but it stood too far inside the bay to be effective, so it became the residence of the Governor of Havana. In 1851 its front was demolished so that O'Reilly Street could run through to the docks. The fort was built of limestone quarried from Havana's shoreline, with thick sloping walls, a water-filled moat and a drawbridge. Old cannons on wooden carriages stand in its courtyard, and one tower is topped by the bronze La Giraldilla, which became the city's symbol. From the ramparts you look out over the harbour. Today the fort holds a museum, so check opening times. It pairs well with the Morro Castle across the water, about 1.2 km away in a straight line. The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to Cuba because of fuel, power and water shortages, so read the current advice before you plan.
Sloping walls over water.
The city's bronze symbol.
On wooden carriages.
Plaza de Armas, Old Havana, Cuba
Havana CathedralHavana Cathedral is a stone church on the Plaza de la Catedral in Old Havana and3 minutes walk
Plaza ViejaPlaza Vieja, the Old Square, is a broad square in Old Havana lined with colourfu7 minutes walk
Old HavanaOld Havana is the original heart of the city, bounded by the line of its old wal7 minutes walk
La Cabaña FortressLa Cabaña is a huge stone fortress on a hill at the entrance to Havana harbour. 8 minutes walk
Paseo del PradoPaseo del Prado is a broad promenade in central Havana that runs from the Malecó12 minutes walkIt stood too far inside the bay to defend it.
A bronze figure on a tower that became Havana's symbol.