The fort is considered the oldest stone fort in the Americas and was listed in 1982 as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Havana and its Fortifications. It was built between 1558 and 1577 in the same location where a fort was destroyed by French pirates in 1555. Located on the western side of the harbor and bordering Plaza de Armas. In 2010, the castle reopened as Cuba's maritime museum featuring exhibits of the island's maritime past from pre-Columbian days through the 18th century. Guided tours in Spanish and English are available.