San Carlos de la Barra Fortress

Built in the style of 15th Century Italian Bastion Forts, San Carlos de la Barra Fortress has witnessed bygone eras and fierce wars. Constructed in 1623, the fortress served as important protection against invaders coming from Lake Maracaibo. In more recent history, the fort survived a bombardment from two German warships in 1903 during the Venezuelan Crisis. The towering bastions of the fort were successful in deflecting the Imperial German Navy. The white ramparts and cobbled walls still remain intact, overlooking the waters of Lake Maracaibo. The fort was declared a national monument to Venezuelan history in the year 1965.