Castillo de Santa Catalina

"Following the Anglo-Dutch sacking of the city in 1596, King Philip II sent engineer Cristóbal de Rojas to Cádiz to carry out a defence project; Rojas considered that the most immediate intervention was to build a fortification in the bay of Santa Catalina, to defend, in this way, one of the most vulnerable fronts of the maritime borders. The castle represents an important example of military architecture of the Modern Age and has come down to us today without major changes. It has a star-shaped plan with two well-defined fronts: one formed by triangular bastions that rest on the beach and the other open towards the city, where the only gate of the enclosure is located, protected by two bastions and a ditch, which regulated the water level through locks. A bridge leads to the simple gate, protected by an upper guardhouse, under which there is a commemorative plaque commemorating the completion of the works, during the reign of Philip II. Inside, the various pavilions are organised around a parade ground, with porticoes on both sides, while on the third side is the chapel of Santa Catalina, built in 1693. Today, this fortress has been transformed into a large multipurpose cultural and leisure space, which includes temporary exhibition halls, educational workshops for students, artistic and craft workshops, and in addition, in the parade ground of the Castello, concerts and summer activities are organised."

"Beautiful to visit & sunbath"