12 Fortified Port Cities Where History Meets the Ocean Waves
10. Havana, Cuba: Key to the New World
Havana’s strategic importance as the "Key to the New World" for the Spanish Empire led to the creation of one of the most comprehensively fortified port systems in the Americas. The iconic Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro and the massive Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña dominate the harbor entrance, designed to repel all comers. These fortresses, along with extensive city walls (much of which is now gone), protected the vital assembly point for treasure fleets, their weathered stones now overlooking a city vibrant with history.
