The Bulwark of Santo Domingo

The Bulwark of Santo Domingo was the first segment to be constructed in the fortified area. On September 8, 1614 a stone was laid on the place where Drake had attacked the city in 1586. The Bulwark of San Felipe […]

The Bulwark of Santo Domingo was the first segment to be constructed in the fortified area. On September 8, 1614 a stone was laid on the place where Drake had attacked the city in 1586. The Bulwark of San Felipe or the Bulwark of Santa María, later called Santo Domingo because of the proximity to the convent of the same name, was a project pushed by the governor, Diego de Acuña, following the plan of Cristóbal de Roda, which, at the same time, followed the plan designed by Bautista Antonelli.

While Diego Escobar was governor (1625-1626) the bulwark was completed. Santo Domingo is a clear example of a bulwark of the Italian school: two faces and two flanks with loops to reinforce the low lying fortified areas of the adjacent walls with an effective correspondence in firing power, which also defended the Santo Domingo Entrance. The bulwark had a cistern and space for the guard corps. Together with the Bulwarks of Santiago and Santa Cruz, these defended the most exposed part of the city.

It was repaired by Juan de Herrera and Sotomayor between 1714 and 1718 from the destruction provoked by De Pointis, giving it its current form. The low-lying fortified areas disappeared, but the vaults which served as access were retained, a baroque sentry-box was added, and the San Felipe Entrance was transferred to its current location, in a position more convenient for its defense.