- Address: Daniel Nieto, Callao 07021, Peru
- Phone: +51 1 4290532
- Working hours: daily 09: 00-16: 00
- Cost of visit: free of charge only with organized excursion
In the southwestern part of Lima, in the port of Callao stands the fortress of King Philip, which in 1774 was built as a fortification, and now plays the role of a museum of the armed forces of Peru.
History of the fortress
In the XVIII century, the Peruvian capital was often raided by pirates and corsairs. As a protection against the raiders used a wall, which as a result of a powerful earthquake in 1776 was almost completely destroyed. In the same year, the vice-king of Peru decided to start building a fortress that would protect the main port of the country and directly the capital itself. Fortress was given the name of the Spanish King Philip V. Construction continued from 1747 to 1774 under the leadership of the French architect Louis Gaudin.
What is the interest of the fortress of King Philip?
The fortress of King Philip is one of the largest military fortifications built by the Spaniards. Although it did not perform its direct functions for forty years after the construction, Peru used it during the War of Independence as the main center of Spanish troops.
The central fortress of the fortification has a round shape, which is crowned by a small clock tower. The fortress was built of cobblestone, which gives it a reddish shade. It is surrounded by sidewalks and lawns, which amaze with its smoothness and purity. Right in front of the entrance to the fortress of King Philip there is a small playground with a fountain. At some levels of the fortress, guns still remain, which once belonged to the Spanish royalists.
Each corner of this structure indicates that it was built for serious purposes. Here you will not find a hint of Spanish architecture. Inside the fortress of King Philip you are waited by semicircular ceilings, stone walls and twilight. Here are opened several halls of glory, in which busts of famous warriors are exposed. On a separate pedestal there is a bust of Tupac Amaru - the leader of the uprising of local Indians from Spanish colonists.
In addition, in the fortress of King Philip you can see the following exhibits:
- portraits of Spanish officers;
- the form of the Spanish soldiers;
- banners;
- clothing of local residents of different times;
- handicraft products of indigenous people of Peru.
How to get there?
The fortress of King Philip is located in the suburbs of Lima on a stretch between three streets: Jorge Chavez, Paz Soldan and Miguel Grau Avenue. You can reach it by public transport or a rented car .
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