Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña

"Whoever is ruler of this hill will also be that of Cuba," the fortress master builder Bautista Antonelli, architect of the Castillo del Morro, is supposed to have said already in the 16th century about the strategic location on the left shoreline of the entrance to the harbor. Just how right he was became apparent when the English troops captured the Morro from here in 1762.

In November of 1763, a few months after the English's withdrawal (see Morro), the construction of the fortress began, which was completed in 1774 and named for the Spanish king Carlos III. During the 19th/20th century, La Cabaña continued to serve as a garrison and prison. After its capture by the rebellion army in December of 1958, it was the headquarters of Ché Guevara for a while.

Today the fortress, together with the Morro, is part of the "Parque Histórico-Militar Morro-Cabaña" (military-historic park) and houses a collection of old weapons. Soldiers in historic uniforms parade for tourists. Every evening at 9:00 p.m. the "Cañonazo", a canon shot, sounds from La Cabaña which in earlier times signaled the closing of Havana's city gates.