Santiago de Cuba Attractions

Castillo de San Pedro del Morro (Morro Castle)

Santiago's most impressive structure is poised ominously atop the cliffs at the narrow entrance to Santiago Bay, about nine miles (14km) south of Santiago. This enormous piece of military architecture - a maze of stairways and dungeons - was begun in 1640. The Morro was rebuilt in 1664 after the English pirate, Henry Morgan, reduced it to rubble. The castle now houses the Museum of Piracy, featuring excellent displays on piracy, colonialism, and slavery. There are old blunderbusses, muskets, cutlasses and Toldeo blades in glass cases.

Address: Six miles (10 km) south-west of the city centre, near the bay; Telephone: 226 691 569; Opening time: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am to 4pm; Admission: CUC 3; extra for cameras