Castillo San Felipe de Barajas is the largest Spanish fortress ever built in the Americas, rising 40 meters above Cartagena on San Lazaro hill. Construction began in 1657 and was massively expanded in 1762, its irregular bastions following the shape of the hill rather than a symmetrical plan.
The fort earned its reputation in 1741, when it withstood a British invasion fleet of nearly 200 ships and over 23,000 troops led by Admiral Edward Vernon, one of Britain’s worst military defeats before World War I. Visitors can explore a network of underground tunnels built to be detonated beneath attacking troops, along with ramparts, cannon batteries, and small museum displays.
The fort is open daily and best visited in the morning to avoid Cartagena’s midday heat. Combine it with a walk through the walled Old City, a short taxi ride away.
