San Pedro de la Roca Castle, Santiago de Cuba

Castillo del Morro San Pedro de la Roca, Santiago de Cuba
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Castillo_del_Morro_by_Glogg_4.jpg
Author: Glogg, Peter, Switzerland


Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca is a castle in the city of Santiago de Cuba. It is located about 10 km (6 miles) from the city centre overlooking the bay.

San Pedro de la Roca Castle was built to protect against pirates as well as commercial and political antagonism in the Caribbean. The fortifications reaches down steeply over the promontory into the bay. It has a series of terraces, four main levels and three large bulwarks.

Cienfuegos, Cuba
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DirkvdM_castillo_del_morro.jpg
Author: Dirk van de Made


In 1662, even as the fortress was under construction, Santiago de Cuba was raided by English pirates led by Christopher Myngs, resulting in it being partially damaged. Repair work were carried out between 1663 and 1669. It was damaged by a series of earthquakes between 1675 and 1692. Renovations and expansions followed repeat damages by earthquakes.

When pirate attacks were no longer a threat, part of the fortress in 1775 was converted into a prison for political prisoners.

San Pedro de la Roca Castle was inscribed as a World Heritage Site during the 21st session of the World Heritage Committee which met in Naples, Italy, on 1-6 December, 1997.

World Heritage Site Inscription Details

Location: N 19 58 0 W 75 52 15
Inscription Year: 1997
Type of Site: Cultural
Inscription Criteria: IV, V

Visiting San Pedro de la Roca Castle, Santiago de Cuba

You can fly to Santiago de Cuba from Havana on Aero Caribbean.

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