Castillo de Paso Alto
Castillo de Paso Alto—also known locally as the Batería de Costa—sits on the Santa Cruz coastline where currents and prevailing winds forced ships to sail close to shore. That strategic geography is why this fortification became central to the city’s defence “during centuries,” surviving shifting military needs and repairs. Construction plans took shape with the arrival of the comandante general Francisco de Andía in 1625, and the fort was fortified further in 1641 in the context of the war against Portugal. Its vulnerability was stark on 30 April 1657, when Robert Blake attacked Santa Cruz and this castle was the most damaged among the city’s defences. Attempts to demolish it in 1683 were blocked by opposition from the captain general Félix Nieto de Silva, conde de Guaro. …
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