Castle of the Royal Force, Havana

The Castle of the Royal Force was built between 1558 and 1577 from limestone quarried along the Havana shoreline. It was intended to defend the city against pirate attacks, but its position, set too far inside the bay, made it less effective as a coastal fortress. Even so, it remains one of the oldest stone forts in the Americas and forms part of the UNESCO-listed fortification system of Old Havana.

In 1634, a watchtower was added, crowned by a bronze weathervane in the form of a woman. Known as The Giraldilla, the figure became one of the great symbols of Havana and appears on the Havana Club rum logo. The original sculpture is preserved in the Museum of the City, in the nearby Palace of the Captains General, while a replica stands on the fort’s tower.

According to popular tradition, The Giraldilla represents Isabel de Bobadilla, Havana’s only female governor, who governed after her husband, Hernando de Soto, left for Florida in 1539. Historically, however, this identification is more legend than proven fact, since the sculpture was created decades later.

Today, the Castle of the Royal Force houses a maritime museum with exhibits on Cuba’s seafaring history, navigation, colonial trade, and naval defense. One highlight is a large model of the Santísima Trinidad, an 18th-century Spanish warship built in Havana and remembered as one of the largest ships of its time. From the upper level, visitors can also enjoy fine views over the harbor and Old Havana.