The Fuerte de San Juan de Manzanillo (known locally as Castillo Grande) is a small 17th-century fortress on the tip of the Bocagrande peninsula that guarded the southern entrance to Cartagena Bay — now sitting among the modern high-rises of the resort district. The fort is low, compact (only 55 metres across), and often overlooked by visitors, but it was strategically crucial during the siege of Cartagena by Admiral Vernon's English fleet in 1741 (one of the largest naval operations of the 18th century, which the Spanish under Blas de Lezo famously repelled).
The fort is free to enter and is mostly empty, which gives it an atmospheric quality that the more famous San Felipe lacks. The position provides Bocagrande's best sea-level view of the walled city across the water — particularly at sunset when the colonial skyline glows against the Caribbean.
Verified Facts
Castillo Grande is a 17th-century fortress
It is about 55 metres across
It helped defend Cartagena during the 1741 siege by Admiral Vernon
Blas de Lezo commanded the Spanish defence
Entry to the fort is free
Get walking directions
Barrio Bocagrande, Cartagena, Colombia
