Considered the masterpiece of the bastion system in military constructions, built by Spain in America, the fortress San Carlos de la Cabaña-finished in l774- marks a milestone in monumental architectural design.
The huge defensive elevation, located at the entrance of Havana Bay, constitutes one of the most convincing examples of conservation adapted to the functionality of today, turned into a genuine tourist area for its importance as a historic, military complex. It is ideal for the celebration of fairs, festival, trade shows, and national and international festivals of different artistic manifestations.
Its halls treasure the largest collection of ancient weapons existing in Cuba and they host a museum of former office of Commander Ernesto Che Guevara after the triumph of the Revolution
But as getting into its history and sifting through yellow documents, we can still know more of the monumental architecture, which reveals In its contemplation of the crowds who flock today, in the XXI Century, those recreation grounds.
Designed for the defense of the port canal, the battery of twenty-one bronze cannons from the XVIII Century was used to greet with salvos the entrance of the ships, in which personalities of the Spanish Government traveled. Now and perpetuating a tradition, the “Cannon shot of nine o’clock”, runs a mixture of reality and fiction; the youngsters dressed as at that time, every night, they activate one among the most peculiar and aged protagonists: the cannons Solano, the Parca, the Hermosa, Ruperto and Capitolino.
But if it deals with architecture, it should be emphasized that the original project of M. Vallier, as amended by Silvestre Abarca, receives funding from the French School of the XVII and XVIII Centuries, represented by engineers Luis de Cormanglaine and Sebastian de Petre, mainly in the design of the curved flanks, orillon in the bastions and exteriors. From the Italian military engineering, it assimilates the strongholds and from Dutch, the hydraulic works.
During of the second half of the XVIII Century and at the height of a policy of despotism, Spain assimilates the newest materials and constructive techniques to expand and modernize the fortified defense system in its colonies with the aim of preserving them from the attacks of pirates and corsairs.
With the idea of achieving defensive autonomy capability, the military strategists, and architects, conceive a more open and more fragmented structure- in the form of a barrier- comprising seven hundred meters along the bay and in front of the town. The bastions protected with moats and the plant of the fortress, in the shape of a crown whose tips look to land, ensured effective protection.
As part of the second system of defensive ring of the village, formed by staggered barriers and isolated strengths (1763-1896), San Carlos de la Cabaña is inserted in the trilogy Morro, La Punta and the high and low batteries of the Divina Pastora.
It is the unique fortification on the Island that holds two pincers: San Antonio and San Augustine, behind each ravellin which protect the wall of the main enclosure, and hinders the access to the attacker, saving only a small pit at their ends, known as portcullis.
This land front protected by a deep dry moat and a covered passage surrounding the place, links the fortress with the Castle of the Three Reyes del Morro, become a symbol of the city.
(Translator: Reinaldo Fernandez)
