Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca

Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca — commonly called El Morro — is a seventeenth-century fortress built into the cliffs at Santiago de Cuba's harbour entrance. Designed by Giovanni Battista Antonelli, the castle was besieged by pirates, sacked by the English in 1662, and rebuilt multiple times. UNESCO inscribed it in 1997.

Guards and visitors report shadowy figures in military dress in the lower batteries near the waterline, particularly at dusk. The sound of a cannon being fired has been described when the bastions are empty. Guides relay accounts of cold spots in the dungeon where prisoners were held.

The fortress is open daily as a museum. The approach involves a steep road from the harbour. Interior spaces include narrow stone passages and steep stairs between terrace levels. The clifftop position offers panoramic views but can be very windy.

UNESCO World Heritage Site open daily as a museum with admission fee. Steep road approach from the harbour — taxis or organised transport recommended. Narrow stone passages and steep stairs between terrace levels. Clifftop position can be windy and exposed. Located approximately ten kilometres south of Santiago de Cuba centre.