Country
Panama
City / Region
Portobelo (Colón)
Construction Date
17th and 18th Centuries (1st period 1596-1599; later period 1753-1760). Customs House 1630-1634.
Conservation status
Listed as World Heritage in Danger (since 2012). Restoration projects (2024-2027) for Santiago de la Gloria, Fuerte de Santiago, San Jerónimo, San Fernando (funded by the Gov. Panama/IDB, managed by the Ministry of Culture). Objective: address deterioration, protect against threats, remove from the 'in danger' list.
Latitude and Longitude
[Fuerte Santiago de la Gloria] 9°33'11.2"N 79°39'34.4"W ; [Fuerte San Jerónimo] 9°33'16.2"N 79°39'20.0"W ; [Fuerte San Fernando] 9°33'39.9"N 79°39'51.8"W
Main characteristics
Spanish defense system for transatlantic trade; protected the vital port of Portobelo (fairs); 17th-18th century military architecture; includes forts, castles, barracks, artillery. UNESCO World Heritage Site (with San Lorenzo). Suffered attacks (Parker 1601, Morgan 1668).
Source(s)
MEJÍA, E. Fortificaciones de la costa caribe de Panamá. ArcGIS StoryMaps, 15 nov. 2021. Disponível em: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/a3d07442d9a54c54bc3017c0fab1a870. Acesso em: 21 abr. 2025.
UNESCO. Fortificaciones de la costa caribeña de Panamá: Portobelo y San Lorenzo. World Heritage List. Disponível em: https://whc.unesco.org/es/list/135. Acesso em: 21 abr. 2025.
MINISTERIO DE CULTURA (Panamá). El Ministerio de Cultura impulsa la restauración de las fortificaciones del Caribe. Notícias, 2024. Disponível em: https://micultura.gob.pa/el-ministerio-de-cultura-impulsa-la-restauracion-de-las-fortificaciones-del-caribe/. Acesso em: 21 abr. 2025.
UNESCO. Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo. World Heritage List, Maps. Disponível em: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/135/maps/. Acesso em: 21 abr. 2025.
UNESCO. Lista del Patrimonio Mundial. Disponível em: https://whc.unesco.org/es/list/&lother=es&iso=pa&search=&order=region. Acesso em: 21 abr. 2025.