Castillo El Morro
For over 150 years, the Morro lighthouse has been a sure guide for maritime navigation in the area. It has also become a symbol of the city over the years- there is no tourist guide to Havana that doesn’t bear an image of it. History tells us that it was one of the main defense systems in Havana in the past; in the middle of the 16th century it had become a valuable point of observation, and beginning in 1563 a tower was built for the ships in transit.
It was later built up with several cannons, and beginning in 1589, given its use to defend the city against pirates and invaders, construction began on a solid fortress, which concluded in 1629, to provide some peace of mind to the Spanish royal family.
But the sense of security didn’t last long, as the English Armada began sailing the waters off the coast of Havana in 1762. The troops and artillery of the Count of Albermale, despite the huge resistance put up by the Castillo del Morro, managed to break the fortress.
Subsequently, and given the growing importance of Havana as a port city, in 1845 a new lighthouse was built on the same spot, with the Fresnell lantern. It produced light that was visible up to 40 miles away, although the fortress continued to serve as a defense fortification. One century later, in 1945, the electric lighting system was installed.
Today, the Castillo del Morro has different uses- its large halls are used as art galleries, and there are two restaurants located on the property: Los Doce Apostoles and La Divina Pastora, along with a bar in the spot where the artillery battery used to be, now with stunning ocean views.
UNESCO has named the site a World Heritage Site, and I recommend that you visit when you come to Havana.
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