Morro Castle
The Story
Spain began construction of El Morro in 1589 following a devastating pirate sack of Havana by the French privateer Jacques de Sores in 1555. For two centuries it successfully defended the city — until the British captured it in 1762 after a 44-day siege, briefly occupying Havana before trading it back to Spain for Florida. The experience prompted Spain to build the even larger La Cabaña fortress alongside it. Today the two fortresses together form a UNESCO-protected military complex that frames one of the most photographed harbor views in the Caribbean.
What Awaits You
Architecture: Compact harbor fortress with thick stone walls, a functioning lighthouse, and multiple defensive bastions guarding the narrow entrance to Havana Bay
Cultural significance: Built by Spain beginning in 1589 to guard Havana — then the most important port in the Caribbean — from pirate and foreign naval attack
Landscape / setting: At the mouth of Havana Harbor, directly across the channel from the Malecón and the historic city center
Unique feature: The Cañonazo ceremony at 9pm nightly — soldiers in 18th-century Spanish military dress fire a cannon from the adjacent La Cabaña fortress, a tradition dating to colonial times
Detailed Itinerary
Location
Era Built
Architecture Style
Best time
Similar Tour
