FUERTE BATERIA SAN JERÓNIMO
In the heart of Portobelo, the Batería de San Jerónimo has also been on Unesco's World Heritage List since 1980, at the same time as the other fortifications in Portobelo and San Lorenzo. The fort presents the most impressive remains of the village, and is one of the finest examples of Spanish military architecture of the 17th and 18th centuries. The fortifications were designed to protect the great transatlantic trade. They were built between 1663 and 1670, at a time of increasing piracy. The structure was last altered in 1758, the date inscribed above the arched gateway that marks the entrance to the fort. The fortifications, along with the large battery of cannons pointing out into the bay, protected the gold and countless riches plundered from the New World. The spoils were stored in the town, after having crossed the entire Isthmus of Panama through the jungle, before being shipped to Spain. San Jerónimo, like the city's other fortifications, is freely accessible and enjoys a privileged location, offering a magnificent view of the bay and the Customs building, renovated in 2023. Even if you don't have much time in the area, a visit is a must. It's best to come in the late afternoon, when the heat drops and the light softens. Don't forget your camera - you're sure to be treated to a blazing sunset!
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