San Severino Castle

San Severino Castle, locally known as Castillo de San Severino, is situated in the city of Matanzas in Cuba.

In 1682, the Spanish Crown approved the construction of a fortress on the Bay of Matanzas to prevent pirate attacks on the newly founded town of Matanzas. Construction started in 1693 but was abandoned in 1697 due to a lack of funds and workers. In 1731, engineer Antonio Arredondo started over. By 1745, the fort was completed.

In 1762, during the British occupation of Cuba, San Severino Castle was severely damaged by Commander Antonio Garcia Solis with dynamite.

Reconstruction began in 1772 under engineer Joaquin de Perazas. Between 1774 and 1793, the fort served as a Customs office. From 1821 until the 1980s, it was used as a prison.

Originally, water lapped at the main entrance, but a road was built in front of it in 1910. Now, a dry moat surrounds the fort.

Today, the fort hosts a small museum dedicated to its history and slavery in Cuba. Visitors can tour it for a small fee, which nearly triples if you want to use or take pictures with your camera. During my visit, access to the courtyard and ground floors was closed. It’s a nice fort, but the accessible area is way too small, even for the modest fee.

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