Santa Catalina Castle

You’re now standing at the entrance of Santa Catalina Castle, one of Cádiz’s most emblematic fortresses. Set on the rocks along La Caleta beach, this star-shaped stronghold seems to rise straight out of the ocean. Its story begins with a dramatic event: in 1596 an Anglo-Dutch fleet attacked Cádiz, looted it and set it ablaze, and to prevent such devastation from happening again, King Philip II ordered new defences, including this fortress designed by the military engineer Cristóbal de Rojas. Built between the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, Santa Catalina is now the oldest surviving military structure in the city. From 1769 onward, it was used as a military prison, and because of its isolation and particular conditions it mainly held political prisoners and other “sensitive” figures. One of the most famous was the Mexican general Mariano Abasolo, a hero of Mexico’s independence struggle, who was imprisoned here in the early nineteenth century. The dungeons, still visible today, recall that darker chapter of the castle’s history. These days its rooms host exhibitions, concerts, film screenings and other cultural events, and its ramparts offer one of the finest views over the Atlantic and La Caleta beach. Admission is free, so enjoy the visit.