Fortifications in Latin America

Ramón Gutiérrez

ISBN: 978-84-95241-43-6

Year: 2005

Pages: 396

Illustrations: 342

Binding: hardcover with dust jacket

Size: 30 x 30 cm

Published by: Madrid, Iberdrola and Ediciones El Viso

In this book, Ramón Gutiérrez, architect and art historian, addresses an often overlooked architectural legacy: the fortifications of Latin America. Often perceived with negative connotations, these structures, built primarily by Spain and Portugal, possess an artistic and heritage value that is widely recognized today. The author begins his study by contextualizing 16th-century fortifications within the various European trends of the time—Italian, French, Dutch, Spanish, and Portuguese—and highlights the fundamental role of Spanish military engineers in their design. He also points out how these fortifications, often defensive in nature, interacted with enemy constructions, acting as deterrents. The book includes a geographical overview of the fortifications of the Americas, from Florida to Chile and Paraguay, with chapters dedicated to the most representative examples, accompanied by impressive large-format photographs. This work is presented as a valuable contribution to the study of a unique and essential architectural heritage.