Country
Venezuela
City / Region
Península San Carlos / Zulia
Construction Date
17th century (1679-1683/1686, Francisco Ficardo). Previous structure perhaps 1623. Rebuilt/expanded 1769, 1780 (CaYesiro Isava Oliver).
Conservation status
Uncertain, potentially poor. Described as "Eternal remodeling" and access "No" in wiki source, suggesting problems/Restricted access. General deterioration observed by UNESCO. Recent assessment needed.
Latitude and Longitude
10°59'10.8"N 71°36'27.1"W
Main characteristics
Spanish colonial star fort; protects Lake Maracaibo entrance; limestone blocks (Toas Island); regular geometric layout (Renaissance influence); central courtyard; walls 6m high, 1-3m thick; star-shaped moat; central ravelin. Part of Spanish coastal defenses.
Source(s)
MORALES PADRÓN, F.; LLAVADOR MIRA, J. Mapas, planos y dibujos sobre Venezuela existentes en el Archivo General de Indias - Segunda Serie. Sevilla: Escuela de Estudios Hispano-Americanos, 1964. Disponível em: https://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/174054/1/Mapa%2C%20planos%20y%20dibujos%20sobre%20Venezuela...%20%282%C2%AA%20Serie%29.pdf. Acesso em: 21 abr. 2025.
PÉREZ-GIUSTO, C.; PÉREZ GALLEGO, R. Trazas de Pedro Luis Escrivá en las fortalezas abaluartadas de Venezuela. In: CONGRESO INTERNACIONAL DE EXPRESIÓN GRÁFICA ARQUITECTÓNICA, 17., 2018, Alicante. Actas... Alicante: Universidad de Alicante, 2018. Disponível em: http://saber.ucv.ve/bitstream/10872/21812/1/TIFAU2020_HP-09_P%C3%A9rez-Giusto_publicable.pdf. Acesso em: 21 abr. 2025.
UNESCO. Fortificaciones del Caribe. World Heritage Papers 19. Paris: UNESCO, 2006. Disponível em: https://whc.unesco.org/documents/publi_wh_papers_19.pdf. Acesso em: 21 abr. 2025.
LOS Castillos de Guayana cuentan la historia de los siglos XVII y XVIII. Últimas Noticias, Delta Amacuro. Disponível em: https://ultimasnoticias.com.ve/delta-amacuro/los-castillos-de-guayana-cuentan-la-historia-de-los-siglos-xvii-y-xviii/. Acesso em: 21 abr. 2025.