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Fortress · Porlamar, Nova Esparta
Castillo de Santa Rosa
The Spanish fort atop a hill in La Asunción, the capital of Margarita, completed in 1682. The walls protect the cell where the heroine Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi was imprisoned and open out over the valley of Santa Lucía and the east coast.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Castillo de Santa Rosa
The Castillo de Santa Rosa sits atop a hill in La Asunción, the capital of the state of Nueva Esparta, about 12 km from Porlamar. It was completed in 1682 to defend the capital, which the Spanish had moved inland precisely to keep it away from attacks arriving by sea. From the top, lookouts could see the coast and the roads leading up from Pampatar.
The fort is small and compact, with stone walls, bastions, guardhouses, cannons and an inner courtyard. In the rooms and dungeons there is now a small museum with weapons, objects and panels about the history of the castle.
One of the cells is that of Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi, a heroine of independence, who was imprisoned in the castle in 1815 as a form of pressure on her husband, General Juan Bautista Arismendi. Her story is one of the most told on the island, and her remains are in the National Pantheon in Caracas.
From the walls you can see the valley of Santa Lucía, green amid the dry island, the rooftops of La Asunción and, in the distance, the east coast. In the city centre, a few minutes away, are the plaza Bolívar and the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, one of the oldest churches in Venezuela.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 40 minutes to 1 hour; plus another half hour to the center of La Asunción.
Best time
In the morning, before the midday heat, combining it with the Basílica da Virgem do Vale en route. Castle opening hours vary; check before you go.
How to get there
It sits on a hill at the entrance to La Asunción, about 12 km from Porlamar, a 20-minute drive or taxi ride. There is parking near the gate; the last part is a short climb on foot.
Tip
After the castle, go down to the centre of La Asunción, the island's tranquil capital, to see the plaza Bolívar and the cathedral, with its stone tower.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Castillo de Santa Rosa
Who was Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi?
A heroine of Venezuelan independence who was imprisoned in the Castillo de Santa Rosa. She was the first woman to be interred in the Panteón Nacional in Caracas.
When was the castle built?
It was finished in 1682 to defend La Asunción, the island’s capital.
What can you see from the top of the castle?
The Santa Lucía valley, the rooftops of La Asunción, and, in the distance, the island’s east coast.
Is La Asunción the capital of Margarita?
Yes, it is the capital of the state of Nova Esparta, although Porlamar is the largest city.