The castle of San Felipe de Baraja - Cartagena de Indias
Situated
on the peak of the San Lazaro hill, this ancient military
complex is the largest built in America. It was built on a
strategic place in order to observe the invasions in the
city by earth or on the Bay of Cartagena. Its construction
started in 1536 and done in 1657, so a bit more than a
century of work. The castle received the name of San
Felipe in the honour of the sovereign. With a triangular
shape, it owns four control stations and eight canons.
The castle
resisted at many assaults, specially the city attack in
1741 by the English troop of the admiral Vernon and was
taken only once, whether in 1697 by the French commander
De Pointis. In 1762, a decision was taken to reinforce the
San Felipe defence to protect from war attacks with
English. However, the military engineer, Antonio de
Arevalo, was responsible to convert the castle in an
untouchable fortress. So, 63 canons were installed and a
high axed wall which was impossible to climb. In the
interior, many tunnels, galleries, descents and mines to
destroy it if the castle was taken by the enemy. Finally,
the castle was abandoned and restored in 1928. A statue of
the general commander Don Blas de Lezo is situated at the
entrance to underline the defense of Cartagena during the
Vernon attack in 1741. Another monument is situated at the
base of the castle, whether the one of the
Old Boots.
How to visit the San Felipe
castle?
- Cartagena city tour
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