El Morillo Castle

El Morillo Castle, locally known as Castillo del Morillo, is located several kilometers east of the town of Matanzas in Cuba. On the opposite side of the bay lies San Severino Castle.

El Morillo Castle is a small fort built in 1720 at the mouth of the Canímar River to defend the area against pirate attacks. It was rebuilt between 1776 and 1807.

The current appearance of El Morillo Castle dates back to 1830.

In 1935, two Cuban heroes, Antonio Guiteras Holmes and Carlos Aponte Hernández, were caught and executed near the bridge over the Canímar River while they were looking for a boat to take them to Mexico.

The fort now houses a small museum partly dedicated to Guiteras and Aponte, as well as to the indigenous archaeology of the surrounding area. It can be visited for a small fee. The museum is run by two friendly Cuban ladies who guide you through the exhibits. Although they speak only Spanish, they are very entertaining!

So, El Morillo Castle is not a very large or spectacular fort, but it’s worth a visit.

Gallery