Mexican American Fortification Essay
The fortification testifies to the military power that the Spaniards developed to defend the city from pirates and fortune seekers from other lands.
It was designed by Antonio de Arevalo and its construction began in 1657. Hernán Castro, who works for the Public Improvement Society as coordinator of the castle's educational area, explains that it took 63 years to erect it and that it was considered "one of the works of most important military engineering constructed by Spain in all America ".
The fortification was built by African slaves. The Spaniards had Cartagena as the most important port in the Caribbean and needed to shield it from their enemies because of the wealth that was kept in the city.
In San Felipe, located above the hill of San Lázaro, there …show more content…
The tunnels also served to the Spanish troops to move from one place to another of the castle in the middle of an attack, without exposing themselves to be victims of an enemy gun. Dozens of legends have been woven on these underground passes.
There are those who say that one leads to the hill of La Popa; others, which leads to the fort of Bocachica, far away, on the island of Tierrabomba. It has even spread the story that the castle is connected to the cathedral, in the historic center. The truth is that the tunnel - the master gallery, it is called -, whose complete route can not be made because of the humidity in the deepest parts, ends outside the castle, where the parking lots are, and was an escape route.
Another military advantage offered by the fortification -explains Castro- is that it has all its walls slightly inclined to avoid that the enemy guns hit it with all its forcefulness. Those who visit it can still see the batteries where the cannons and the troops hospital were located. Most visitors arrive in the morning, although the site is open until the evening
It was designed by Antonio de Arevalo and its construction began in 1657. Hernán Castro, who works for the Public Improvement Society as coordinator of the castle's educational area, explains that it took 63 years to erect it and that it was considered "one of the works of most important military engineering constructed by Spain in all America ".
The fortification was built by African slaves. The Spaniards had Cartagena as the most important port in the Caribbean and needed to shield it from their enemies because of the wealth that was kept in the city.
In San Felipe, located above the hill of San Lázaro, there …show more content…
The tunnels also served to the Spanish troops to move from one place to another of the castle in the middle of an attack, without exposing themselves to be victims of an enemy gun. Dozens of legends have been woven on these underground passes.
There are those who say that one leads to the hill of La Popa; others, which leads to the fort of Bocachica, far away, on the island of Tierrabomba. It has even spread the story that the castle is connected to the cathedral, in the historic center. The truth is that the tunnel - the master gallery, it is called -, whose complete route can not be made because of the humidity in the deepest parts, ends outside the castle, where the parking lots are, and was an escape route.
Another military advantage offered by the fortification -explains Castro- is that it has all its walls slightly inclined to avoid that the enemy guns hit it with all its forcefulness. Those who visit it can still see the batteries where the cannons and the troops hospital were located. Most visitors arrive in the morning, although the site is open until the evening