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Castillo de Jagua Fortress Cienfuegos

Castillo de Jagua Fortress Cienfuegos

Plagued by bandits, buccaneers and pirates, Spanish king Philip V decided to build a fortress in Cienfuegos to protect the entrance to the city’s bay in the 1740s.

It was originally called the Castillo de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Jagua due to the name of the location known as Jagua, just outside the city. The Jagua Fortress or in Spanish Castillo de Jagua. It was declared a National Monument on October 10, 1978 and opened as a museum on March 24, 1998. La Fortaleza has architectural tones from the European Middle Ages, including the moat that surrounds it, but its adaptation to the terrain make it very similar to other American fortifications in the Caribbean. However, it remains as a genuine expression of Renaissance architecture. Typical tactical attributes are the square front steps leading to a drawbridge supported by pillars and flanking the main entrance, designed to prevent communication with the interior of the fortress.

The Castillo de Jagua Fortress Cienfuegos is an interesting part of Cienfuegos history and due to the interior museum, perfect location for photos of the bay and ample areas to discover, it’s certainly worth a visit when in Cienfuegos. For more museums in Cuba visit Cuba Museums