Matanzas city was constantly under siege by corsairs and pirates, even before its official foundation in 1628.

This year, from Mexico, the Spanish fleet, which brought much wealth, was attacked and plundered by Dutch corsairs, in front of the shores of Matanzas port; it was robbed by the Spanish in Mexico, event known in history as “the attack on the Fleet of Silver”.

In its flowering epoch, only two fortresses were taking care of the entry into the port. Local wealthy landowners proposed the construction of one fortress in the west margin of Canimar river, where they had raised a turret in 1720, called “EL Morrillo.” Many stories could be written about this fortitude.

This small fort is present in the revolutionary struggles, because on the evening of 7 May, 1935, the anti-imperialist combatant Antonio Guiteras and the brave Venezuelan Carlos Aponte died in unequal combat. They were waiting there for the arrival of Amalia yacht, to leave the country, with the aim of organizing an expedition and continuing the struggle against Fulgencio Batista dictatorship. (By: Juan Blas Rodriguez)