Castillo del Príncipe (Havana)
| El Castillo del Principe | |
|---|---|
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| General information | |
| Coordinates | 23°07′52″N 82°23′10″W / 23.131°N 82.386°W |
The Castillo del Príncipe (Castle of the Prince) is a military fort located in the Loma de Aróstegui, in Havana, Cuba. In 1982, the fort was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, along with other historic sites in Old Havana, because of the city's importance in the European conquest of the New World, its fortifications, and its unique architecture.[1][2]
Structure
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The castle has the shape of an irregular pentagon and has two bastions, two semi-bastions and a redan (V-shaped protrusion), further comprises deep trenches, mine galleries, warehouses, offices, a water cistern and a housing area large enough to accommodate a garrison of 1000 soldiers. Its defensive artillery had 60 cannons of various calibers. It also has a system of tunnels built with red bricks that allow communication with all the outposts and most remote positions of the castle.
The position of Castillo del Príncipe allowed a broad view of the city, to the remains of the old city wall, from Campus Martius.
The fort overlooked Avenue Carlos III (today officially called Avenue Salvador Allende), which led to the house of rest and recreation of the Captains General, called Quinta de los Molinos.
Prison
The fortification had various uses including as a prison that served from colonial times until the triumph of the Cuban Revolution. After the arrival of the revolutionary forces, the fort became the home of a unit of military ceremonies. The fort was primarily used by Castro's revolutionary armed forces to hold common and political prisoners. During 1961-1962 it housed surviving members of the Bay of Pigs Invasion who were ransomed on Christmas Day 1962.
Detainees
The fortress housed detainees and prisoners including the teacher of José Martí, Rafael María de Mendive, Julio Antonio Mella, Eduardo Chibás, Raúl Roa García, Juan Marinello, and El Caballero de Paris.[citation needed]
Gallery
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El Castillo del Príncipe
See also
References
- ^ "Old Havana and its Fortification System". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "El Castillo del Príncipe". Retrieved 2021-06-17.
Bibliography
The Bay of Pigs: The Leaders' Story of Brigade 2506 (9780393331202): Johnson, Haynes: Books
External links
Castle del Príncipe
Q5050352