Santa María de la Cabeza castle
Colonial castle in Cumaná, Venezuela / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Santa María de la Cabeza castle is a colonial castle built in the seventeenth century by the Spanish monarchy in the center of the city of Cumaná, Venezuela. It was built as a replacement for the San Antonio de la Eminencia castle. Its construction was ordered by Sancho Fernando de Angulo y Sandoval, governor of the Province of Cumaná. The building was designed using the trace italienne style popular during the seventeenth century, with a proportional geometric floor design. Bastions were used as the main defensive elements. The castle housed a garrison of 250 soldiers, and was the seat of government for the Province of Cumaná.
Santa María de la Cabeza castle | |
---|---|
Cumaná, Venezuela | |
Coordinates | 10.4611°N 64.1742°W / 10.4611; -64.1742 |
Type | Fortress |
Site information | |
Controlled by | State government |
Open to the public | yes |
Condition | Ruins |
Site history | |
Built | c. 1669–73 (1669–73) |
Materials | Margosa limestone |
Construction began in 1668 when Angulo y Sandoval's predecessor, Juan de Urtarte, wrote a memorandum to the King of Spain stating that the San Antonio de la Eminencia castle was unfit for defense. Several years later (and without proper authorization), Angulo y Sandoval began construction of a fortress that would be more useful for the defense of the city than the two existing fortifications. The castle underwent several renovations to repair damage caused by severe earthquakes. A 1684 quake severely damaged the castle and another in 1929 left the structure in ruins. The castle was declared a cultural and municipal asset in May 2005.