Travel Tips

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Looking down on the moat

The moat has been drained to protect the foundations and to recreate historical accuracy, since historically, the moat was usually kept dry. The deepness of the moat would tend to keep people out of the Castillo anyway if the draw bridges were raised or burned.

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Sentry box

Each of the four corners of the fort is protected by a diamond-shaped bastion. I think this is the San Carlos Bastion

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Sign by the sentry box

Garita

Each bastion had a sentry box from which the sentry could watch outside the fort but sheltered him from the weather and enemy fire.

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Close up

These turrets were originally red against the white walls of the fort. You can help save the remaining red plaster by not touching it.

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Looking out the port at the Bridge of Lions

The sentry's view of the river.

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Bronze cannon on the gundeck

There are 18th-century cannon, both iron and bronze, on the gundeck. . Bronze cannon were expensive, but would last longer than the typical cast iron gun whose metal became brittle with extended use. The bronze ones are the ones that turn green.

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Flag over moat

The flag, known as the Burgundian Cross, is a stylized cross of St. Andrew and was the family symbol of Philip of Burgundy who had married Juana, the daughter of Isabel and Ferdinand of Spain. Their son brought the symbol with him to Spain and ruled as Charles I. It was used by Spain until 1785.

The wall shows a detail of the conquina stone from which the fort was built.