![](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool?posttype=photo&canonicalUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sager.org%2Fkoken%2Falbums%2Fday-56%2Fcontent%2Fsecond-largest-fort%2F&content=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sager.org%2Fkoken%2Fstorage%2Fcache%2Fimages%2F002%2F791%2FCuba-Cruise-Day9-132%2Flarge.1534285921.jpg&caption=%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Ca href="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sager.org%2Fkoken%2Falbums%2Fday-56%2Fcontent%2Fsecond-largest-fort%2F" title="Second largest fort"%3ESecond largest fort%3C/a%3E%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EWhen+it+was+completed+in+1774%2C+La+Caba%C3%B1a+was+the+second-largest+colonial+military+installation+in+the+New+World.+Over+the+next+two+hundred+years+the+fortress+served+as+a+base+for+both+Spain+and+later+independent+Cuba+and+also+served+as+a+prison+by+the+government+of+Fidel+and+then+Raul+Castro.+The+complex+is+now+part+of+a+historical+park%2C+along+with+the+El+Morro+fortress%2C+and+houses+several+museums.+Every+night+a+cannon+is+fired+at+9pm%2C++%22El+Ca%C3%B1onazo+de+las+9%22%2C+a+custom+kept+from+colonial+times+signaling+the+closure+of+the+gates+in+the+city+wall.%3C/p%3E){kind=link}
Second largest fort
When it was completed in 1774, La Cabaña was the second-largest colonial military installation in the New World. Over the next two hundred years the fortress served as a base for both Spain and later independent Cuba and also served as a prison by the government of Fidel and then Raul Castro. The complex is now part of a historical park, along with the El Morro fortress, and houses several museums. Every night a cannon is fired at 9pm, "El Cañonazo de las 9", a custom kept from colonial times signaling the closure of the gates in the city wall.