Fortaleza Ozama
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Criteria | Cultural: ii, iv, vi |
| Reference | 526 |
| Inscription | 1990 (21st Session) |
The Ozama Castle —or Fortaleza Ozama in Spanish— is a sixteenth-century castle which lies on the entrance to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and overlooking the Ozama River. Named after the river of the same name, the castle, also referred to as "La Fortaleza" or "The Fortress", is the oldest military construction in the New World. It was designed to guard the entrance to the port of Santo Domingo, and defend the city of from seaborne enemies. Construction began in 1502. It was well-built enough to serve as a prison until the 1960s when it was restored and opened to the public.