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Via Nostalgia
Torreón de San Lázaro 1
Torreón de San Lázaro 2
Torreón de San Lázaro 3
Torreón de San Lázaro 4
Torreón de San Lázaro 5
© Wikimedia Commons contributors / CC BY-SA
UNESCO WHCCulturalInscribed 1982204-006

Torreón de San Lázaro

Component of Old Havana and its Fortification System

Overview

Havana was founded in 1519 by the Spanish. By the 17th century, it had become one of the Caribbean's main centres for ship-building. Although it is today a sprawling metropolis of 2 million inhabitants, its old centre retains an interesting mix of Baroque and neoclassical monuments, and a homogeneous ensemble of private houses with arcades, balconies, wrought-iron gates and internal courtyards.

About Torreón de San Lázaro

El Torreón de San Lázaro is round tower of masonry built on the shore of the Caleta de San Lazaro. The Torreón de San Lázaro is approximately 4.57 metres (15.0 ft) in diameter and 9.14 metres (30.0 ft) high with embrasures along its wall at the intermediate level and a battlement parapet at the third level roof. It has a wooden entry door at ground level. With the passage of time, the San Lazaro cove was filled and the tower was included in a Republican-era park named after Major General Antonio Maceo. In an 1853 map of Havana it is shown as the Torreón de Vijias (lookouts). In 1982, the Torreón was inscribed along with other historic sites in Old Havana on the UNESCO World Heritage List, because of the city's importance in the European conquest of the New World and its unique architecture.

Read more on Wikipedia

Selection Criteria

(iv)(v)

Details

Countries
Cuba
ISO Codes
CU
Coordinates
23.1416, -82.3741
View on UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Old Havana and its Fortification System← All UNESCO World Heritage Sites
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Torreón de San Lázaro

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Torreón de San Lázaro

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Torreón de San Lázaro