Castillo de Santa Catalina has a long and eventful history. As it happens, it used to be a fortress (obviously), a prison (for notable figures) and now serves as a cultural space. To access the castle, you must initially traverse a dry moat. While the moat presently lacks water, it used to boast a floodgate system that could be activated when needed. We strongly advise strolling along the castle's perimeter, savouring the distinct and splendid vistas from each of the battlements, each possessing its own unique charm.
The story of Castillo de Santa Catalina began in 1597 when Philip II commissioned the construction of a defensive fortress in response to an Anglo-Dutch assault that took place in 1596 during the Anglo-Spanish War and the War of Flanders. The attack, led by Charles Howard and Robert Devereux II, targeted the city of Cádiz with the support of the United Provinces of the Netherlands. The year in which the first bricks were laid (1598) is commemorated in the gateway to the Castillo de Santa Catalina.
Regrettably, the architect Cristóbal de Rojas passed away before witnessing the completion of his project, resulting in a less ambitious final structure. The fortress follows a pentagonal plan, featuring a three-pointed star on the seaward side and a wall with a gate flanked by two semi-bastions on the landward side, accompanied by a moat and drawbridge.
During the reign of Charles II in 1693, the fortification underwent expansion, including the addition of a chapel and sacristy with a single nave, covered by a barrel vault, and a raised choir at the foot. The chapel was dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria and the Immaculate Conception. Its entrance, marked by a modest aileron supported by pilasters and a belfry, leads to an interior adorned with a baroque altarpiece dedicated to the veneration of Saint Catherine, Saint Joseph, Saint Augustine, Saint Francis, and others. The castle housed various noteworthy artworks, later relocated to the Gobierno Militar de Cádiz building and the military chapel in Plaza de Fragela. The sculpture of the Virgen del Buen Camino, also known as the Virgen del Buen Viaje, remains within the castle to this day. Upon closer inspection, one can observe that the baby Jesus is missing both feet. The tale recounts a sailor's attempt to take the effigy with him for protection during his travels. Unable to carry the entire sculpture, he settled for a small portion instead.
In 1769, during Charles III's reign, the fortress was repurposed as a military prison for notable figures, including liberal and Latin-American independence-backing politicians. Mariano Abasolo, one of the insurgent generals during the Mexican War of Independence. Was imprisoned here. Following his arrest and owing to his wife's close connections with the viceregal government, his death sentence was commuted to ten years of incarceration. He ultimately succumbed to pulmonary tuberculosis in this very place after spending five years behind bars, at the age of 32, specifically in 1816. In Mexico, he is commemorated as a national hero who, despite betraying fellow leaders and the cause of independence to safeguard his own life, made significant contributions to the struggle.
Today, Castillo de Santa Catalina has been transformed into a large multipurpose cultural and leisure space, which includes temporary exhibition halls, pedagogical workshops for students, artistic and craft workshops, and concerts are organised in the Plaza de las Armas del Castello. and summer activities. It can be visited throughout the year, although its hours change in the summer and winter seasons.
Photo: Diego Delso, delso.photo, License CC-BY-SA
