Baluarte de San Francisco — Attraction in Zona Centro

In the 17th century, Campeche was a bustling port city that attracted a lot of attention from pirates and privateers. These sea raiders would attack ships in the harbor and sometimes even invade the city itself, stealing valuable goods and causing havoc.

To protect themselves from these attacks, the citizens of Campeche decided to build a series of fortifications around the city. These consisted of walls, bastions, and watchtowers that could be used to defend against any invaders.

The fortifications were designed by Italian engineer Giovanni Battista Antonelli, who had experience building similar structures in Europe. He used a combination of traditional Spanish and Italian military architecture to create a unique style that was perfectly suited to the needs of Campeche.

Over the years, the fortifications proved to be very effective at deterring pirate attacks. In fact, Campeche became known as one of the most heavily fortified cities in the Americas, with walls that were up to 4 meters thick in some places.

Today, the fortifications are a major tourist attraction in Campeche, drawing visitors from all over the world who are interested in learning more about the city's colonial history. They are also an important part of the city's cultural heritage, serving as a reminder of the bravery and ingenuity of the people...

Baluarte de San Fransisco offers a fine view of the southern part of the walled city, up calle 59 to the northern bell and south beyond the wall (the market and parque). It is only 15 pesos per person and you can ring the bell! We walked the wall on the second to last day of our trip, at 1 in the afternoon on a 95 degree day. Don't be like us...it...

We loved the museum displays and learning a bit about the history and pirates of Campeche. The kids (and adults!) had a blast walking around the wall at dusk, getting a new perspective on the city and imagining times gone by.

A great deal for only 15 pesos per person!

Would have been nice if English versions...