The Castillo de la Real Fuerza (the Castle of the Royal Force) was completed in 1577 by Spanish authorities to protect Havana from attacks by pirates or rival powers and is one of the oldest stone fortifications in the Western Hemisphere. It is the main architectural element of Old Havana and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The castle is located quite a distance from the entrance to Havana’s bay and did not fulfil its mission – English invaders took Havana in 1762 without exchanging any fire with the castle’s forces. For a while, the Castillo hosted Cuba’s National Archive and National Library and, after the Cuban Revolution, the government offices. Today, it houses a museum of Cuban ceramics, showcasing Cuban pottery from pre-Columbian times to today. There is a magnificent view of the city and the bay from the small café on the ramparts.

O'Reilly, La Habana, Cuba, Phone: 537-861-5010

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Book Market in Plaza de Armas Camera Obscura Castillo de la Real Fuerza Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro Catedral de San Cristobal El Malecon Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabana Fusterlandia Gran Teatro de La Habana Hotel Nacional de Cuba La Bodeguita del Medio Miramar Museo de la Ciudad Museo de la Revolucion Museo Hemingway Finca Vigia Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes Museo Napoleonico Paseo del Prado Playas del Este Plaza de la Revolucion Real Fabrica de Tabacos Partagas San Francisco de Asis Square The Capitol Building

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