Fortaleza San Felipe
Encyclopedia
Fortaleza San Felipe is a historic Spanish fortress located in the north of Dominican Republic
in the province of Puerto Plata. Is also known as El Morro de San Felipe and was used to protect the City of Puerto Plata from pirates
and corsair
s. It is located on a hill at the Puntilla Del Malecón, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean
; its strategic location protected the entrance to the city's seaport. The construction of the fort was commissioned by King Felipe II
of Spain
in 1564, and it was completed in 1577 by Don Rengifo de Angulo, the fort's mayor.
Today, the Fortaleza San Felipe serves as a museum
showcasing the important role it has played in the history of Puerto Plata, and the Dominican Republic. The Fortaleza houses military artifacts from the 18th and 19th centuries.
in May, 1800. The Battle of Puerto Plata Harbor
saw the North American forces overwhelm both the French and Spanish forces.
The Fortaleza San Felipe has been used in various occasions throughout its history as a prison
, it was where Pedro Santana
jailed one of the founding fathers, Juan Pablo Duarte
.
The Fortaleza was converted into a museum in 1965, underwent a major renovation in 1972 and in 1983 was officially opened to public. Today, the Fortaleza is the only remnant of the 16th century in Puerto Plata, as everything else was destroyed in battles or fires during the War of Restoration
.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
in the province of Puerto Plata. Is also known as El Morro de San Felipe and was used to protect the City of Puerto Plata from pirates
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
and corsair
Corsair
Corsairs were privateers, authorized to conduct raids on shipping of a nation at war with France, on behalf of the French Crown. Seized vessels and cargo were sold at auction, with the corsair captain entitled to a portion of the proceeds...
s. It is located on a hill at the Puntilla Del Malecón, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
; its strategic location protected the entrance to the city's seaport. The construction of the fort was commissioned by King Felipe II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1564, and it was completed in 1577 by Don Rengifo de Angulo, the fort's mayor.
Today, the Fortaleza San Felipe serves as a museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
showcasing the important role it has played in the history of Puerto Plata, and the Dominican Republic. The Fortaleza houses military artifacts from the 18th and 19th centuries.
History
The Fort was the scene of one of the few land battles in the Quasi War, against the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in May, 1800. The Battle of Puerto Plata Harbor
Battle of Puerto Plata Harbor
The Battle of Puerto Plata Harbor was small battle in 1800 between a French privateer, a Spanish fort and the United States Navy during the undeclared Quasi War between France and the United States....
saw the North American forces overwhelm both the French and Spanish forces.
The Fortaleza San Felipe has been used in various occasions throughout its history as a prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
, it was where Pedro Santana
Pedro Santana
Pedro Santana y Familias was a wealthy cattle rancher, soldier, politician and dictator of the Dominican Republic. He was born in the community of Hinche, which was part of the Colony of Santo Domingo. Currently, Hinche is a border town part of Haiti...
jailed one of the founding fathers, Juan Pablo Duarte
Juan Pablo Duarte
Juan Pablo Duarte y Díez is one of the Founding Fathers of the Dominican Republic. He was a visionary and liberal thinker who along with Francisco del Rosario Sánchez and Matías Ramón Mella is widely considered the architect of the Dominican Republic and its independence from Haitian rule in 1844...
.
The Fortaleza was converted into a museum in 1965, underwent a major renovation in 1972 and in 1983 was officially opened to public. Today, the Fortaleza is the only remnant of the 16th century in Puerto Plata, as everything else was destroyed in battles or fires during the War of Restoration
Dominican Restoration War
The Dominican Restoration War was a guerrilla war between 1863 and 1865 in the Dominican Republic between nationalists and Spain, who had recolonized the country 17 years after its independence...
.
See also
- Virtual Tour of Fortaleza San Felipe in Puerto Plata at Virtual Tour Before You Travel