Pentagonal walls
Thick stone.
FotosATP-Pe — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ibrehaut — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ibrehaut — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ibrehaut — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ibrehaut — CC BY-SA 4.0
A huge pentagonal stone fortress in the port of Callao, built by the Spanish after the 1746 earthquake and its sea wave destroyed the old port, to protect the most important port of Spanish America and the city of Lima from pirates and enemy fleets. The fortress saw the last chapter of Spanish rule in South America: after the Battle of Ayacucho in 1824, the last Spanish commander held out here with his troops through a long siege until they surrendered in January 1826, making it Spain's last stronghold on the continent. Today it houses the Peruvian Army Museum, with uniforms, weapons and old cannons, and you walk along its thick walls and between its towers, with views over the port and ships from the top. Theatrical night tours are sometimes held. Some surrounding parts of Callao are unsafe, so take a taxi straight to and from the fortress, perhaps combining it with the quiet La Punta district nearby. Visits are usually guided.
Thick stone.
Cannons and uniforms.
Callao's ships.
Plaza de la Independencia, port of Callao, about 14 km west of central Lima
The fortress itself is, but some surrounding parts of Callao are not, so go and return by taxi; you can combine it with quiet La Punta.