Blanas Caribbean Forts and Hurricanes

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US/ICOMOS 12th International SymposiumPreservation in Peril

New OrleansMarch 11-15

2009

THE PROTECTION OF THE FORTIFICATIONS IN THE CARIBBEAN AND

THE IMPACTS OF HURRICANES AND TROPICAL STORMS.WHICH WILL BE THEIR FUTURE CONSEQUENCES?

Tres Reyes del Morro Castle. Havana. Cuba

Dra. Lic. Juana Tamara Blanes Martn. (Cuba)

National Center of Conservation, Restoring and Museology

Member of the Board of Directors of ICOMOS-CUBA

Coordinator in America of ICOFORT (International Scientific Committee of

Fortifications and Military Heritage)


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PRESENTATION

I am very happy to be here with you, participating in this important Symposium

organized by the United States ICOMOS. I thank Mr. Donald Jones and the rest of the

authorities who made it possible to organize this event in relation to the natural disasters

and the threat to the cultural heritage preservation in the current world.

In this exchange of experiences, I feel obliged to talk about the anguished conservation

problems of the fortifications inthe Caribbean and aboutthe more intense every

year impacts of tropical storms and hurricanes, between June and November.

As Coordinator ofthe American region ofICOFORT and in the name of a lot of peoplewho work in the fortifications conservation in the Caribbean, I convey to you their

restlessness and deep concern, with the commitment of exhorting you to ask them to

undertake the actions derived from this congress.

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PATRIMONIAL VALUATION OF THE FORTIFICATIONS OF THE

CARIBBEAN

The Caribbean fortifications constitute a

cultural heritage of historical and

monumental relevancy. They were built

on a great scale to protect the Hispanic

commercial colonies in the region. Their

multiple typologies were of European

origin and they were coupled to the

scientific, technical and armaments

development, from the XVI century tothe XIX century, the period of the Spanish colonization in America.San Diego de Aca ulco Castle. Mexico.

The Caribbean is very important because it

was the space where the conquest,

expansion and colonization of America

were undertaken. Here, a commercial

route between Spain and its colonies, of

great political, economic and social

repercussion, was settled down. Also,

nineteen typologies were built which

evolved historically as towers, strong-holds, castles,

bul-warked fortresses, redoubts, ramparts, turrets,

platforms, bastions, magazines, batteries, horn-

works, military cross-paths, defensive lines, lines ofobservation, fortalices, barracks, guard-houses,

trenches and military hospitals.

Mar Caribe

San Jos Redoubt. Campeche. Mexico.

Their multiple designs were mainly drawn by Italian, Spanish and French military

engineers. Stonemasons, bricklayers, carpenters, blacksmiths, designers, slaves, and

salaried workers took part in this great building enterprise.

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Starting from the decade of the 80s, in the XX

century, some of these fortifications have been

declared World Heritage by the UNESCO

Convention. The historical, monumental and

landscapist relevancy of the Castle San Lorenzo

de Chagre and the fortifications of Portobelo

were declared in 1980. These were the main

defences of Central America and they were part

of the fluvial route that communicated the

Pacific Ocean with the Caribbean sea, functionSan Lorenzo de Chagre Castle.

which is carried out today by the Channel of Panama.

Old Havana and its system of

fortifications in Cuba, obtained this

distinction in 1982. This city, with its

port of call, had transformed into one of

the main commercial squares in

America. Its fortresses are genuine

examples of the classic modern military

architecture built in Hispano-America.San Carlos de la Cabaa Fortress. Havana. Cuba.

The fortifications of San Juan de Puerto Rico, also reached this condition in 1982.

These are valuable examples of the monumental Spanish colonial architecture.

The Historical National Park of

Haiti, which includes La Citadelle,

the redoubts des Ramiers and the

Palace Sans Souci, were added to

the list of the World Heritage in

1982. Here, the most important

warlike material of the colonial

time in the Caribbean is preserved.

La Citadelle.

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The fortifications of Cartagena de Indias, in Colombia, got this distinction in 1985.

They express the constructive changes which took place in the military architecture of

the XVIII century.

The city of Santo Domingo, together with its

fortifications, in Dominican Republic,

received this declaration in 1990. Their

defences were the first ones to be built in

America.

Homenaje Tower. Santo Domingo.

The castle San Pedro de la Roca del Morro in the

city of Santiago de Cuba, obtained the category of

World Heritage in 1997. It is both, a natural and

built, group where history, architecture and nature

are integrated.

San Pedro de la Roca del Morro Castle.

The city of Campeche, in Mexico, received this distinction in 1999, for its genuine

examples of the military art. Its group has a great monumental value.

In the same year, this condition was also granted to the spectacular National Park of the

fortress of Brimstone Hill, in Saint Kitts, small island in the Caribbean.

National Park. Saint Kitts.

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PROTECTION OF THE FORTIFICATIONS OF THE CARIBBEAN AND

REPERCUSSION OF THE IMPACTS OF TROPICAL STORMS ANDHURRICANES

Outstanding countries in the Caribbean like Puerto Rico, Cartagena de Indias, Santo

Domingo, Venezuela, Panama, Mexico, Haiti, Cuba and others, have a group of

monuments such as cities, fortresses and natural places, which have been declared

World Heritage. This recognition has allowed them to legally protect the cultural and

natural heritage through the UNESCO Convention (Organization of the United Nations

for Education, Science and Culture), created in 1972.

There are also multiple

cities and territories in the

Caribbean that, although

they do not have the

condition of World

Heritage, for several

reasons, they possess an

outstanding cultural

heritage. Their chattels and real estates are generally protected by their respective

governments, although there is not a political will in all the countries to face

San Carlos Castle. La Guaira. Venezuela.

their

reservation.

h as

San Lorenzo de Chagre and the Battery of San

ernimo, in Portobelo, Panama.

p

The support of non- governmental

international organizations, that have

an economic back, is received to a

certain extent. For example, the

World Monuments Fund Foundation

has been an organization that has

contributed to the conservation and

restoration of fortifications, sucSan Gernimo Battery. Portobelo. Panam.

the Castle of San Juan de Ula,

in Veracruz, Mexico, the Castle

G

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From the middle of the XX century, the damage of the patrimonial goods, was already

an object of concern, because it affects the evolution of the economic and social life; for

the magnitude of the economic, scientific and technical means require by the

conservation (since not all the countries have enough financial resources) and for the

importance that has for all the towns, the conservation of the cultural goods which are

unique, at a national and international scales.

In this new millennium other problems have been added, that are due to the polar

thawing, as a consequence of the global heating. This phenomenon also rebounds in the

region of the Caribbean at a vertiginous speed.

Some historical cities, mainly those

which are near the coasts, begin to feel

the effects of the climatic changes.

Cartagena de Indias, for its geographical

position, had never been harmed by the

tropical storms, but in the last few years,

the sea level rise and the tides, have

already caused it strong damages. The

floods affect the city giving it the aspect of a tropical Venice, as it was recently

expressed by the estimable friends and restorer of Cartagena de Indias, architect Alberto

Samudio. The pavements and cobble stones, of the historical centre and the scarps of

some sectors of the wall, are beginning to be affected by the floods.

Cartagena de Indias City.

San Jos de Bocachica Battery. San Jos de Bocachica Battery.

San Fernandos and San Jos batteries of Bocachica are affected in the entrance of the

port: the sea penetrates and invades the parade-ground and the vaults where

iconographical prints of patrimonial value also remain. These serious problems are

questioned with concern, Claudia Fadull and Mara Pa Mogolln, chairwoman of the

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board and executive

director, respectively, of

Cartagena Society of

Public Improvements,

entity that takes care of

the military monuments in

that city.

San Jos de Bocachica Battery.

In Haiti, the architect Frederick Mangones said that the last storm in the Caribbean,

removed a great quantity of tiles in the Royal Battery in La Citadelle, on top of La

Ferrire.

In the Island Margarita, Venezuela, the strong rains

knocked down a rampart of Santa Rosa fortress, in the

2000, and recently one of the circumscribing walls of

the Castle San Carlos de Borromeo, was partially

demolished, towards the sand together with a part of

its artillery. This information was given by Ileana

Vasquez, president of ICOMOS-Venezuela and by the

specialist Marina Urbaneja.

ninsula.

The historian Jorge Victoria Ojeda, director of the

Popular Art Museum at the Yucatan Institute of

Culture and a fortification expert in the Mexican territory, mentions that the hurricanes

Roxana (1995) and Isidoro (2002) caused serious damages and floods in the city of

Campeche. He also adds that the hurricane Wilma (2005) produced the destruction of

many walls and the damage in the agglutinative materials of the old trenches located on

the north coast of the Yucatan pe

San Carlos de Borromeo Castle.

The information given by the architect Sara Sanz, the engineer Gaspar Noriega, director

of the fortress San Juan de Ula and by the architect Fernando F. Prez Vignola,

director of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), of Veracruz, are

valuable to know the serious damages suffered by some of the most emblematicfortifications in the Caribbean: the Castle of San Juan de Ula, built to defend the port

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of the old New Spain Viceroyalty and the Castle of San Carlos de Perote, built to

protect the Royal Road from Veracruz to Mexico City, during the colonial period,

which was a jail up to 2007.

The Castle of San Juan de Ula has been

seriously affected by natural forces and by

man's action, during the XX century. The

strong winds of the north, the rains that

damage the structure of the building, the

filtrations, the progressive humidity of the

in the walls and vaults, the po

structure and the abrupt changes

eratures, that cause detachments of

rings and proliferation of noxious

ation, have been permanent problems for

than one century.

ston

infr

tem

cove

vege

mo

Throughout these years, the government

authorities of Mexico have periodically

e rt

a of

p

t

re

ade conservation programs for this real

ons. Although these works have not had

ple, the Castle San Carlos de Perote is

and considerable changes of temperature

San Juan de Ula Castle.

m

estate. They have studied and applied

advanced technologies, they have placed n

enclosure around it, with staked boards to

protect the foundation of the Castle, and

essive area where the Castle is built, it has

ats: the stronger - every - time increment

of storms and hurricanes, in the Gulf of Mexico.

The effects of these phenomena in areas near the coasts are different from the effects in

the areas of the interior of the country. For exam

Castle San Juan de Ula

San Juan de Ula Castle.they have taken other constructive acti

completely positive results, due to the aggr

and now it faces new threstayed until our days

at 2, 400 meters high above the sea level,

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Depending on the concrete situation that threats the country, four phases of information

have been designed, which are announced progressively, and in advance, to give time to

obilize all the sectors of the country to put into practice systems and measures of

. The phase of cyclonic alert, which predicts with 48 hours in advance that the

alarm, which announces which 24 hours in advance, that the

r the phenomenon has passed.

and hurricanes, and the vulnerabilities and risks

to the diverse instalme is task is led by the

m

disaster prevention. These phases are:

1. The informative phase, which announces the existence of a disaster with more than72 hours of advance;

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disaster can begin to affect the territory;

3. The phase of cyclonicphenomenon will harm the national territory; and

4. The recuperative phase which begins afte

Besides taking these measures, Cuba continues studying alternatives and strategies to

minimize the impact of tropical storms

the communities andto nts of the country. Th

Council of National Defence, presided over by

the President of the Council of State, through

the Civil Defence. This is the organ of the

State that centralizes leads and controls the

organized plan, which must be followed by the

population and all the state sectors of each

area, municipality and province in the Cuban

territory.

Camaguey City. Cuba (2008). After hurricaneIke.

Camaguey City. Cuba (2008). Recuperative phaseafter hurricane Ike.

Baracoa City. Cuba (2008). Recuperative phaseafter hurricane Gustav.

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To protect the human life is the main priority. Also the economic, social and cultural

sources are preserved by means of the population's cooperation and the measures put

The recu ant because in it we

re going to work hard in order to get the elementary services of survival such as: the

re

into practice by all the organisms and Cuban institutions, controlled by the Civil

Defence.

Baracoa City. Cuba (2008). Recuperative phase after hurricane Gustav.

perative phase, after the disaster has passed, is very import

a

supply of drinking water, food, the cleaning of debris, the reestablishments of

electricity, gas, the means of communications and the vital sectors of agriculture, public

health, industry, culture and education.

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CUBAN FORTIFICATIONS AND THEIR PROTECTION AGAINST NATURAL

ISASTERS

r centuries of Spanish colonization. Nowadays, around 100 remain in

not exist to protect the

rtifications against the disaster of hurricanes and tropical storms. Each monument,

led and their care and

revention is done according to their type and location. A great part of the fortifications

005), Gustav and Ike (2008)

The hurricanes Kate (1985) and

e ones

D

In Cuba, more than 400 defensive fortifications and of logistical support were built

uring the foud

different conservation states. The protection laws of the Cuban cultural patrimony,

promulgated in the Republic of Cuba in 1977, protect this cultural heritage, and the

Cuban State, aware of its relevance works for its conservation.

However, as in other Caribbean countries, a specific plan does

fo

included the fortifications, is protected according to the place characteristics and

functions. That is to say, each installation prepares a plan of measures according to its

particularities: if they are located near the sea or inside the territory, if they have

museums, gastronomic services or if they fulfil another function.

The protection measures for the real estates are rigorously fulfil

p

totally conserved, works as museums. First, the goods for the museums and the basic

ones are preserved in secure places; afterwards, the buildings are protected by means of

the reinforcement of doors, windows, windows-panes and other cleaning actions. An

internal evacuation plan is included, if necessary.

Impact of the hurricanes Kate (1985), Wilma (2

Wilma (2005) were th

that caused bigger damages to

the Havana fortifications,

especially to the Castles of Los

Tres Reyes del Morro and San

Salvador de La Punta, which

are located at the entrance of

the port channel. They are

fortifications of high historical

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and monumental value, which were built by the Italian engineer Bautista Antonelli, to

close the passage of the port channel from the XVI century.

For many years, the Castle of El Morro has

ow in the last years the waves have arriv he tower of the

he historian Jorge Echevarra, then director of the museum of the Castle San Salvador

faced constructive problems due to its

environmental aggressiveness. The force of

the winds of the hurricane Kate, 1985,

moved two canyons Elorza in their rails and

pulled up the sentry-box located in the

rampart of Tejeda. It is not difficult to see

Tres Reyes del Morro Castle.

h ed until the height of t

lighthouse, symbol of Havana city, built in the XVI century and reconstructed in the

XIX century.

T

de La Punta, has related the terrible experience suffered by this fortress during the

passing of the hurricane Wilma in 2005. As preventive measures, objects of the

museum, such as gold; silver bars, precious stones and other outstanding pieces which

were removed from the Havana coast jetsam were taken out of the building in advance.

Other objects, such as cabinets and basic means of the museum, were placed in the

upper floor so that they didn't suffer damages.

San Salvador de la Punta Castle (2005). Before and after hurricane Wilma.

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San Salvador de la Punta Castle (2005). After hurricane Wilma.

his testimony, he mentions that water of the rain flooded the moat and rose up to two

e

the recuperative phase, they waited until the waters were drained and later on they

aracoa, the first city founded in Cuba, which is located on the western part of the

In

meters high inside the vaults. The Rescue and Salvage Brigade integrated by firemen,

and the headquarters of the Protection and Security Company, played an important rol

in taking out the employees with ropes, in keeping the radio communication and in

giving instructions about what should be done.

In

carried out the tasks of cleaning and re-establishing the service infrastructure of the

building. In 2009, the castle has not still restored its museum.

B

Island, suffers frequent sea penetrations due to the strong marine currents of the Atlantic

Ocean. Its population witnessed the destruction of the city by the hurricanes Gustav and

Ike in 2008. The pictures of that disaster travelled all over the world.

Baracoa City (2008). After hurricane Gustav.

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CONCLUSIONS

the fortifications has generally been caused in the region of the

aribbean such as Puerto

ention

s in the Caribbean region constitutes a general concern

stitute a patrimony of

The damage ofCaribbean, by bad building interventions, by their inadequate uses, the lack of

systematic maintenance, the lack of political will of some countries for their

conservation and, most of all, by the environmental pollution due to the salinity, the

presence of nearby industries and the port infrastructure. The ports have degraded

the authenticity of the landscape, besides polluting the atmosphere, because of the

bays dredge and the ship traffic. Nowadays, a new threat is added to their damage:

the intensity and frequency of the atmospheric phenomena.

The recent sampling carried out in historical cities in the CRico, Cartagena de Indias, Venezuela, Mexico, Haiti and Cuba, coincides in the factthat the fortifications, a cultural heritage which has survived along five centuries, are

seriously damaged. Specific measures of protection for the coastal fortifications do

not exist; neither a campaign to face the danger of meteorological disasters.

Cuba is an example of the putting into practice of an emergency plan of prevagainst natural disasters. This organized system involves the whole Cuban territory,

from its population to all the governmental organizations and institutions of the

country. The fortifications are protected with the same preventive measures adopted

for the real state. In spite of the obtained achievements, we go on trying to better

each day the measures and the internal organization needed to face the

meteorological phenomena.

The future of the fortificationof all the people who work in the preservation of the cultural heritage. It is a

patrimony that was generally conceived for the coasts. Many of them were built on

stakes and others were lifted on mountains, fields and cities.

The disappearance of many coastal fortifications, which conhigh historical and monumental value, is predicted, because the sea level is rising

every year.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

onmental challenges of the region demand a systematic

tal ruin of the real estate. Their

The climatic and envirmonitoring of the fortifications so that they could be able to face the impact of the

atmospheric phenomena and to lessen the damages.

The abandonment of the fortifications causes the tocare by a governmental institution or by a particular entity and their adequate use

guarantee the protection of this cultural heritage, regarding any other circumstances.

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IBLIOGRAPHY

amara. Fortificaciones del Caribe. Letras Cubanas, La Habana,

Cuba. Printed in Madrid, Espaa, 2001.

Apuntes. Publicacin de la Pontificia

del Instituto de Historia y Cultura Militar. Ao L, Nm.99. Madrid,

Patrimonio Mundial. Revista Lettres de Cuba. Ministerio de

urrieri e Gennaro Tampone, con la collaborazione del Collegio

Patrimonio Cultural,

B

1. Blanes Martn, T2. ________________. El valor de las fortificaciones del Caribe. Logros,

conservacin y perspectivas. RevistaUniversidad Javeriana de Bogot. Vol. 17, nms. 1-2, enero-diciembre 2004.

Colombia.

3. ________________ . Fortificaciones cubanas.Revista de Historia Militar.Publicacin

Espaa, 2006,

4. ________________. Integridad de las fortificaciones del Caribe y sus declaratorias de

Cultura de Cuba y Francia. CUBARTE. Ministerio de Cultura de Cuba. Publicacin

digitalizada. 2006.

5. Catastrofi naturali e beni culturali. Strategie di prevenzione e riabilitazione. Acura di Francesco Gdegli Ingegneri Della Toscana. Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze, 2003.

6. Proteccin del Patrimonio Cultural. Compilacin de Textos Legislativos. ConsejoNacional de Patrimonio Cultural. Ministerio de Cultura, 2002.

7. Vargas: patrimonio en emergencia. Edicin al cuidado de Mara Ismenia Toledo.Cuadernos del Patrimonio Cultural. Serie Difusin. Instituto de

Caracas, Venezuela, 2000.

Blanas Caribbean Forts and Hurricanes

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