La Punta Castle

La Punta Castle, locally known as Castillo de La Punta, is located in the city of Havana in Cuba. Its full name is Castillo de San Salvador de La Punta.

The site of La Punta was strategic for Havana's defense, located on the western shore at the bay's entrance. After Havana was attacked and captured in 1555 by French pirate Jacques de Sores, who had landed at or near this site, it was decided to build a fortification here.

In 1558, Italian military engineer Giovanni Battista Antonelli arrived to inspect the city's defenses. A year later, he returned with workers to fortify the La Punta site and the El Morro hill on the opposite shore of the bay entrance.

Construction of the current La Punta Castle, however, did not begin until 1590, nearly at the same time as El Morro Castle. It was completed around 1610. During uncertain times, it was linked to El Morro Castle by an iron chain. In the event of an attack, this chain was tightened to block enemy ships from entering the bay.

In 1762, a British fleet led by Admiral Sir George Pocock attacked and captured Havana. During this attack, La Punta Castle was nearly destroyed. Afterward, the governor, Count de Ricla, ordered the fortress rebuilt according to the original plans, under the supervision of engineers Silvestre Abarca and Agustin Crame.

In 1865, the Corps of Engineers issued a report describing La Punta Castle as a quadrilateral fortress with bastioned walls, measuring externally up to 100 meters and as little as 58 meters, located 210 meters from the Plaza. The fort then had a garrison of 60 men and 19 artillery pieces.

La Punta Castle can be visited for a small fee. However, there isn't much to see inside; it is a small and not particularly interesting fort.

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