Visiting a Castle

Greetings to all Architecture lovers

Today I will take you on a tour around a castle. Yes, a 16th century castle, which is located in downtown Old Havana, and is the oldest fortress preserved in Cuba. I will tell you about The Castle of the Royal Force, a marvel of colonial architecture, one of the buildings that have survived the passage of time and are preserved in the Historic Center of our City.

This fortress, like the Cabaña, was built for defensive purposes, to secure the bay of Havana with its ships, and the city, from possible pirate attacks. From the entrance to the Bay we can see this great structure surrounded by its thick and imposing stone walls.

This fortress has been transformed into a museum. Inside we can learn about life in the castle in previous centuries and also the naval history of Cuba through the years, among other facts and objects of historical interest.

Although this tour only takes in the area of the large outdoor Plaza, I am sure you will like all the interesting things that are here; a wooden bridge that gives access to the main entrance arch and a wide esplanade covered with old cannons.

The cannons once formed the defensive system of the fortress, there are of different sizes and all visitors love this area to take pictures. Well, tourists and me, because I couldn't pass by not taking a picture in one of them. It is also the ideal place to take pictures of the bay, from here the view is beautiful.

Another thing that attracts attention of this place and what I liked the most, is the wooden bridge that is built over a moat that surrounds the fortress. It is the bridge that leads to the great arch of the main entrance. Underneath it is all covered with water, in which if you look closely you can see some small fish swimming.

The symbol of the city

At the top of one of the Castle's watchtowers is a weathervane, the sculpture of The Giraldilla, a beautiful bronze statue that has become the emblem of the City of Havana.

_{Archive photo of The Giraldilla}

If we look at the top of the tower is a little difficult to define the sculpture by the height and distance at which it is located, so at the entrance of this museum there is a replica of it so that visitors can appreciate it in detail. The one that is currently in the tower is also a copy, the real statue is kept in the current Museum of the City.

This sculpture has a beautiful story behind it that has become a legend.

It is said that the seventh governor sent to Cuba by Spain also had the task of preparing an expedition to Florida from Cuba. Upon his departure, the governor left his wife Isabel in charge of government affairs on the island. But Isabel, a woman in love, was not interested in governing the island and spent almost every hour of the day in the highest tower of the Castle looking at the horizon waiting for the ship that would bring her beloved husband, which never happened. The former governor died before he could return and they never saw each other again. The story goes that Isabel never stopped waiting for him and died for love soon after.

And it was this event, which became a popular legend, that inspired the sculptor Gerónimo Martín Pinzón to create the figure of The Giraldilla.

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The Castle of the Royal Force is still standing to continue telling us its history and that of the beginning of our city. Therefore, it is no wonder that this grandiose fortress is part of the World Heritage.