Castillo San Felipe de Barajas

In front of you is Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, the keystone of Cartagena's defences. Work began in 1657 on top of San Lázaro hill, and in the 18th century the engineer Antonio de Arévalo turned it into this mountain of batteries, ramps and tunnels.

11741: Vernon at the gates

In March 1741 one of the largest fleets of the age appeared off the bay: the British admiral Edward Vernon arrived with some 180 ships and thousands of soldiers. The city was defended by the viceroy Sebastián de Eslava and Lieutenant General Blas de Lezo, with far smaller forces.

The British took the forts at Bocachica and entered the bay. In April they stormed this castle, but the assault failed with heavy losses. The rains, yellow fever and the resistance did the rest: on 20 May Vernon withdrew. In England, medals had already been struck to celebrate a victory that never came.

Lezo had lost a leg, an eye and the use of an arm in earlier battles. He died in Cartagena a few months after the siege.

His grave has never been found. His statue, here in front, points its sword towards the bay.

2What to look for

• The statue of Blas de Lezo, sword raised.
• The sloping walls, designed to deflect cannonballs.
• The sentry boxes at the corners, where the lookouts kept watch.