Ruins of the castle of Santa Catalina del Puerto

The Castillo de Santa Catalina del Puerto is a fortification in El Puerto de Santa María, situated next to a hermitage dedicated to Santa Catalina. Construction of the castle began in the 16th century. While a tower was ordered in 1540, work did not begin until 1585. This tower was intended to be part of the defensive system for the city of Cádiz, and it was designed in a troncoconic shape with two vaults and prepared to mount several artillery pieces.

From its position, the tower defended the mouth of the bay and secured access to El Puerto de Santa María. Built around 1580, it controlled the bay's entrance but its defensive capacity was limited against attacks in 1587 and 1596. Later incorporated into the castle, the remains of the tower are now partially standing and fallen over the sea. Today, the ruins of the tower can still be seen in what was the castle's plaza de armas.

The fort served as one of the first modern defenses outside the island, facing the San Felipe baluart. It was reinforced before the 1625 attack and helped with the transport of supplies to Cádiz. Despite further strengthening and expansion in the 18th century, it could not prevent a looting in 1702 and was later blown up. It was rebuilt again, featuring a nearly semicircular sea front and a land front with a moat. It was destroyed in 1810 to prevent its use against Cádiz, though it was later expanded and its ruins occupied in 1824. The castle remains today as a cultural monument, with walls made of cyclopean material faced with stone blocks, partially worn by storms.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons