Fortaleza Ozama

Coordinates: 18°28′24″N 69°52′54″W / 18.47320°N 69.88171°W / 18.47320; -69.88171

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Colonial City of Santo Domingo
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List

Homage Tower in Ozama Fortress
Type Cultural
Criteria ii, iv, vi
Reference whc.unesco.org/en/list/526 526
UNESCO region Latin America and the Caribbean
Inscription history
Inscription 1990 (21st Session)

The Fortaleza Ozama (in Spanish; Ozama Fortress in English) is a sixteenth-century castle built by the Spanish at the entrance to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and overlooking the Ozama River. Named after this river, the castle, also referred to as "La Fortaleza" or "The Fortress", is the oldest formal military construction of European origin in the Americas.

Architecture

An impressive architectural structure of medieval style and design, the Tower of Homage (Spanish: Torre del Homenaje) stands in the center of the grounds. The castle was designed to guard the entrance to the port of Santo Domingo and defend the city from seaborne enemies. Construction began in 1502 and it was completed in 1505.[1][2] The entrance gate on Calle Damas was originally built in 1608, known as the Prevention Gate.[2]

The castle was well-built enough to serve as a prison until the 1960s.[2] When the prison was closed, the "Fortaleza" was opened to the public. It is located at the end of Las Damas Street.


See also

References

  1. ↑ Harvey, Sean; Fullman, Joe (1 January 2009). The Rough Guide to the Dominican Republic. Rough Guides. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-85828-811-6. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Tuider, Katherine; Caplan, Evan (4 January 2012). Dominican Republic (Other Places Travel Guide). Other Places Publishing. p. 97. ISBN 978-1-935850-09-0. Retrieved 4 June 2012.


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