Castillo del Morrillo

Save

On the western side of the Río Canímar bridge, 8km east of Matanzas, a road runs 1km down to a cove presided over by the four guns of this yellow-painted castle. The castle (1720) is now a museum dedicated to the student leader Antonio Guiteras Holmes (1906–35), who founded the revolutionary group Joven Cuba (Young Cuba) in 1934.

After serving briefly in the post-Machado government, Guiteras was forced out by army chief Fulgencio Batista and shot on May 8, 1935. A bronze bust marks the spot where he was executed.

Suggest an edit to this attraction

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Finca Coincidencia
19.87 MILES
Enhance your taste for bucolic provincial life away from the razzmatazz of Matanzas Province's north coast at this ecological farm 14km northeast of San…
Iglesia de Monserrate
5.53 MILES
For a mappable view of mildewed Matanzas on one side and the broccoli-green Valle de Yumurí on the other, climb 1.5km northeast of the center up Calle 306…
Taller-Galería Lolo
4.75 MILES
Imagine. You're tramping through Matanzas' tatty streets wondering whether the 'Athens of Cuba' moniker is just a local joke when you stumble upon this…
Gran Hotel & Balneario
17.11 MILES
A gorgeous ruin lying truly abandoned in the middle of small-town Cuba that's heavy with atmosphere and still shines (despite the mildew) with a…
Museo Oscar María de Rojas
19.12 MILES
Cuba's second-oldest museum (after the Museo Bacardí in Santiago) offers a selection of weird artifacts, including a strangulation chair from 1830, a face…
Playa Coral
4.41 MILES
Your closest bet for shore snorkeling in the Varadero area is Playa Coral, on the old coastal road, about 3km off the Vía Blanca, halfway between Matanzas…
Parque Josone
17.61 MILES
If you're set on sightseeing in Varadero, ensconce yourself in this pretty green oasis. These landscaped gardens date back to 1940 and take their name…
Marina Gaviota
26.02 MILES
At the peninsula's eastern tip, state-run Gaviota's impressive marina, built in the early 2010s, encompasses a wide malecón (main street), luxury…

View more attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Parque Turístico Río Canímar

0.71 MILES

Boat trips on the Río Canímar, 8km east of Matanzas, are a truly magical experience. Gnarly mangroves dip their jungle-like branches into the ebbing water…

2. Cuevas de Bellamar

2.86 MILES

Cuba's oldest tourist attraction, according to local propaganda, lies 5km southeast of Matanzas and is 300,000 years old. There are 2500m of caves here,…

3. Castillo de San Severino

3.6 MILES

Northeast of Versalles lies this formidable bastion, built by the Spanish in 1735 as part of Cuba's defensive ring. It was tested early on by the British;…

4. Laguna de Maya

3.87 MILES

The Laguna de Maya is part of a flora and fauna reserve on the coast that also incorporates Playa Coral. Located 2km inland from the beach, it comprises a…

5. Playa Coral

4.41 MILES

Your closest bet for shore snorkeling in the Varadero area is Playa Coral, on the old coastal road, about 3km off the Vía Blanca, halfway between Matanzas…

6. Iglesia de San Pedro Apóstol

4.46 MILES

Dominating the scruffy Versalles neighborhood is this fine neoclassical church, which was refurbished inside and out in the mid-2010s. The interior is…

7. Teatro Sauto

4.51 MILES

The defining symbol of the city according to Mexican painter (and admirer) Diego Rivera, the Teatro Sauto (1863) on Plaza de la Vigía's south side is one…

8. Cuartel de Bomberos

4.52 MILES

This unique firefighting museum occupies a still-working fire station and is staffed by friendly volunteers who’ll show you around lovingly polished…

View more attractions

placement: superzone
path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],

targeting:

{
  "url": "cuba/varadero-to-matanzas/attractions/castillo-del-morrillo/a/poi-sig/1117200/1340360",
  "position": "superzone"
}