MORRO’S THE FIRST SIGN WHEN SAILING INTO HAVANA

e tra c of gold and sil er between the viceroyalty of New Spain in the Mexican territories conquered by Hernan Cortes and the Peninsula, starting in the s, turned Havana into a eet gathering spot, before setting sail for the route north of Cuba, on

the Gulf Stream to Europe.

The eet system was complemented by the fortresses to protect Havana’s harbor. The Real Fuerza Castle ( - ) was joined by San Salvador de la Punta Castle in and the Tres Reyes del Morro Castle. They later became

an identity sign for Havana City. Morro’s Lighthouse still stands out as the rst tra c signal when sailing into the port of Havana. For almost ve centuries, it has been the city’s

most loyal vigilante.