The Castillo de Santo Domingo de Atarés is a small hexagonal hilltop fort in Havana built in 1767. Work commenced in 1763, around the same time as initial work on Castillo del Príncipe. It is located on La loma de Soto above the harbour.[1][2] 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.[3]
History
The Castillo de Santo Domingo de Atarés was part of the second colonial defensive system of Havana that was promoted after the period of English rule over the city. The Castillo de Atarés is an irregular hexagon. It does not have bastions, but it has hexagonal sentry boxes at its vertices. In addition, it is surrounded by a perimeter moat, it was built with stone blocks. Despite being a military fortress, the Castle of Santo Domingo de Atarés never entered combat. However, it was bombed by forces of the Cuban Army and Navy, in 1933, when it was occupied by the disaffected Ramón Grau San Martín government. Inside there is a small central parade ground, six vaults, an armory, and several warehouses that once housed food and supplies. The platforms for the heavy artillery are on the roof, from where they had a fairly wide range over the bay and the city.[4]
Gallery
Castillo de Atarés - 1936-drawbridge-and-a-battlement, Havana, Cuba
^Los castillos El Príncipe y Atarés "Para la erección del Castillo de Santo Domingo de Atarés se seleccionó la Loma de Soto, en la zona de extramuros, con una amplia visibilidad del Puerto. Las obras se encargaron al ingeniero Agustín Crame, que las inició en 1763 y quedaron concluidas cuatro años más tarde. Fue dotada de una numerosa guarnición y armamentos adecuados según la época. "
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