CubaPLUS Magazine

The El Morro Lighthouse in Havana is one of Cuba's most iconic symbols, gracing countless travel catalogs and remaining a must-capture subject for travelers.

Perched atop the rocky crag that guards the entrance to the bay, the lighthouse of the Castle of the Three Kings of El Morro (Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro) has guided mariners for nearly de two centuries. 

However, its history as a strategic lookout goes back much further, to the 16th century, when watchtowers were first erected on this very spot to scan the horizon for pirates and privateers. The earliest documented structure dates to 1563, when Governor Diego de Mazariegos ordered the construction of a stone-and-mortar tower on the rocky promontory.

In 1764, following the British capture of Havana and its subsequent return to Spanish rule, the castle's tower began operating as a lighthouse, fueled at the time by firewood and candles.

The beacon we see today is not that original structure. In 1844, the old tower was demolished to make way for the current tapered, solid-stone tower, built under the direction of the military's Corps of Engineers. Its cornerstone was laid on December 8 of that year in a ceremony presided over by Governor Leopoldo O’Donnell.

Standing 25 meters tall, the tower features walls that are 7.5 feet (2.3 meters) thick at the base. Inside, a marble spiral staircase of 117 steps winds to the top, offering breathtaking views of the city and the sea. 

The lighthouse cast its inaugural flash on July 24, 1845, at 7:30 p.m. local time, in honor of the birthday of Queen Mother Maria Cristina of Bourbon. Its optical equipment, acquired at the 1844 Paris Industrial Exposition, featured state-of-the-art Fresnel lenses—a revolutionary advancement in maritime signaling at the time.

Today, the beacon still projects two white flashes every 15 seconds, visible up to 48 kilometers (30 miles) away. Remarkably, its original French-made clockwork mechanism remains fully functional. 

The lighthouse was electrified in 1945. In 1982, as part of Havana's historic fortification system, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

More than just a symbol of Havana, the El Morro Lighthouse stands as a monument of stone and light—a sentinel that, night after night, continues to guide travelers into the harbor.

(Taken from Prensa Latina)