Peru is an extremely diverse country with breathtaking sceneries and spectacular archaeological sites left to us by many different ancient cultures inhabiting the country for thousands of years. But also the more recent history like the Peruvian colonial and republican past bequeathed some truly amazing legacies. One of these is the Fortress Real Felipe in Callao, built 250 years ago to protect the influential capital Lima, its port in Callao and the Peruvian coast.
The port of Callao was Lima’s gateway to the world
During colonial times Lima not only was the capital of Peru, but as well the political, economic and religious center of all Spanish colonies in South American. By law everything coming to the colonies from abroad or leaving from them had to be shipped to / from Lima’s port in Callao. So, all goods, merchandise and mining riches had to pass through Callao and therefore Lima making the Peruvian capital even richer and more influential. This wealth of course drew many dubious characters, pirates and buccaneers to the Peruvian coast threatening the city.
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Real Felipe Fort in Callao
The fortress Real Felipe, built to defend the Peruvian coast and the harbour of Callao, is the biggest and most impressive of all fortresses the Spanish crown erected overseas.
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Real Felipe Fort in Callao
The fortress can be visited, but you have to join a guided tour available inside. Here you buy your entrance tickets.
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Real Felipe Fort in Callao
inside the walls, hallways and towers of the Real Felipe Fortress a piece of Peruvian history has survived.
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Real Felipe Fort in Callao
Since 1984 the fortress houses the museum of the Peruvian army.
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Real Felipe Fort in Callao
The Real Felipe Fort was built between 1737 and 1774 to defend the harbor of Callao, the city of Lima and the Peruvian coast.
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Real Felipe Fort in Callao
The Fortress Real Felipe has the shape of an irregular pentagon occupying an area auf 70.000 square meters
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Real Felipe Fort in Callao
One of the entrances to the underground passageways at the Real Felipe Fort
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Real Felipe Fort in Callao - Governor's House
The Casa del Gobernador (The Governor's House) within the walls of the Real Felipe Fortress.
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Museum Real Felipe Fort in Callao
Inside the Governor's House the actual museum is housed.
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Museum Real Felipe Fort in Callao
Here you find military objects, uniforms and weapons of Peruvian soldiers from all epochs.
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Museum Real Felipe Fort in Callao - Tupac Amaru
Bronce bust of Tupac Amaru exhibited in the halls of the Real Felipe Fort in Callao
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Real Felipe Fort in Callao - Weapons
Weapons used during Colonial times and the Peruvian Independence are displayed at the Real Felipe Fortress.
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Museum Real Felipe Fort in Callao
Bronze busts of the heroes of the fight for Peruvian independence displayed at the Museum within the Real Felipe Fort.
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Museum Real Felipe Fort in Callao - uniforms
At the Real Felipe Fort you find as well a lovely exhibition of Peruvian uniforms
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Real Felipe Fort in Callao
Statue of the unknown Soldier within the walls of the Real Felipe Fortress.
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Real Felipe Fort in Callao - canon
Spread around the huge areal of the Real Felipe Fort you find canons of different epochs
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Real Felipe Fort in Callao - Casa de la Respuesta
Replica of the front part of the Casa Bolognesi, also known as Casa de la Respuesta (House of the Answer). The original house is located in Arica in today's Chile. During the War of the Pacific Arica was still Peruvian territory and the house served as the headquarters for the Peruvian troops defending the city. On the 5th of June 1880 Francisco Bolognesi made following statement to a Chilean messanger: "Tell your officer in command that I have a sacred duty to fulfill, Arica does not surrender, I feel proud of my men and we will fight until we burn the last round."
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Real Felipe Fort in Callao - Tower
The Torreon del Rey (the Tower of the King) occupies one corner of the pentagonal fortress.
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Real Felipe Fort in Callao - Tower of the King
In case the Fortress would have been taken, the Tower of the King was additionally protected by a ditch and drawbidge.
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Real Felipe Fort in Callao - Canon
On top of the tower powerful canons didn't give attackers a chance.
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Real Felipe Fort and the San Lorenzo Island in Callao
What a view from the top of the Torreon del Rey. In the back is the San Lorenzo Island. The Real Felipe Fortress was built using blocks of rocks cut from the island as well as stones from the old Callao city wall. These were "cemented" together with egg white.
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Real Felipe Fort in Callao
The Fortress was named after Felipe V of Spain.
Real Felipe Fortress – built to protect the port of Callao and colonial Lima
When in 1746 a devastating earthquake with following tsunami laid the entire region in ashes and reduced among many other buildings Lima’s city walls into rubble, the Spanish viceroyalty decided the Peruvian capital and its harbor needs more effective protection. Less than 30 years later, the largest and most impressive fortress the Spaniards had ever built overseas was finished on the shore of the Pacific Ocean in Callao named Fortress Real Felipe after Felipe V of Spain.
After Peru’s independence, they used the fort as prison and custom house
It might seem ironic that only half a century later the Real Felipe Fortress that was built to defend the riches and status of the Spanish crown in Peru, helped to fend off the Spanish fleet trying to reconquer the strategic important port of Callao during the struggle for the Peruvian independence. After independence, the Real Felipe Fort was repurposed as a political prison; later, with a brief interruption during the War of the Pacific, it was used as a custom house until 1955.
Today Real Felipe Fortress houses an astonishing military history museum
Since 1984 the Fortress Real Felipe in Callao accommodates an astonishing military history museum run by the Peruvian Army. As the fort is still an active army post, a guided tour is obligatory. The tour leads across the extensive grounds and inside several buildings and hallways full of Peru’s colonial and early republican history showcasing many military objects, tanks, canons, uniforms, antiques and other weapons of Peruvian soldiers from all epochs in excellent condition. And as it should be, Real Felipe has of course its own ghosts. A highlight of the tour surely is walking over the little drawbridge into one tower, see and be in the narrow corridors where prisoners spend years of their lives, and then walk up to the roof where an absolutely breathtaking view over the bay awaits.
Visitor Information for the Fortress Real Felipe
Opening hours: daily including public holidays from 09.00 am to 04.00 pm
Guided tours: usually start every 30 to 45 minutes, are available in Spanish and English and take approx. 2 hours. Bigger groups are asked to make an appointment under 429-0532 or 465-8394
Additional opening hours and tours: every Friday or Saturday night from 07.30 pm to 10.30 pm Real Felipe offers mysterious night tours with a paranormal theme. A reservation is necessary to attend. Please call 465-8394 or write to [email protected]
Entrance fee: foreign nationals S/. 15, local adults S/. 10, children S/. 5 (up to 12 years of age)
General advice: Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. The sun is unforgiving, especially in the summer months, so please take a hat or cap, sun cream and some water with you. Visitors may take photos only. If you are taking part in the night tour, don’t forget your flashlight.