Castillo de Araya

The Real Fortaleza de Santiago de Arroyo de Araya, better known as the Castillo de Araya, is a castle located south of the town of Araya 10°34′47″N 64°15′28″W, in the state of Sucre, Venezuela. It was erected by the Spanish to defend the salt flats of Araya from Dutch raids. For its construction were used blocks of mortar made from the elements of the region itself, so it is common to find in them a large amount of remains of mollusks and other marine organisms in the area. Its construction was decreed in Madrid on January 15, 1622 and the works began in January 1623 and lasted until 1630, when the last bastion was finished. On October 31, 1960, the ruins of the castle were declared a national historical monument with restricted access for tourists.