The Torreón de la Chorrera lies at the mouth of the Almendares river, west to the old city, at the west end of Malecón. The Almendares river was critical for Havana in colonial time, as it was the main drinking water source of the city and the Spanish fleet. The Almendares river was called by the first Spaniards as La Chorrera, or popularly known just as Chorro. On some maps Havana was drawn at the mouth of the Almendares river (at the so called Chorrera region), although the place around El Templete is acknowledged as the first settlement of the city.

The idea to construct a fortification in the Chorrera region was first expressed by the Governor and Captain of Cuba Pedro de Valdés y Menéndez de Lavandera (1603-1608) that in fact had a project to construct a wall around the Old City to protect it against the possible attacks of the pirates and the British navy. However, he couldn’t receive the support of the Spanish Crown to carry out his project, because the war with Great Britain ended, so that his project was abandoned. Instead of it, he could establish a battery of 12 pieces of artillery, the Bateria de los Doce Apóstoles, located on a platform close to the Morro castle that is still preserved.

Even though, the successive governors shared the same opinion that any attack from the Chorrera region appeared more likely in comparison to the bay due to the existing fortress, Castillo del Real Fuerza, and it was mandatory to protect the Almendares river that was the main fresh water source of Havana, none of them succeeded to persuade the Spanish Crown to construct a torreón (large tower for the defense of a fortification or a square) in Chorrera.

In 1630, the construction of the Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, popularly known as El Morro, was completed and a heavy chain was laid between the Castillo de la Punta and Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro to keep out the boats that pose a threat to the city. 

When the Captain General Marquess de Cadereyta and Admiral Carlos de Ibarra, entrusted by the Junta de Guerra del Consejo de Indias (Board of War of the Council of the Indies), visited Havana and inspected the defense system of Havana in situ in 1633, both recommended the building of a torreón at the mouth both of the Almendares and Cojimar rivers. They determined that the three fortresses (the Casillo de la Real Fuerza, the Castillo de la Punta and the Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro) were not effective enough to prevent the foreign troops landing on these critical sites. Thus, a Royal decree was issued in 1635 to construct the Chorrera tower urgently. According to the decree, Mexico would bear the expenses. However, Mexico couldn’t send the necessary fund, so that it was not possible to take a step for a while. 

The threat of the Dutch admiral Cornelius Joll’s fleet Havana in 1640 led the Governor and Captain General of Cuba Álvaro de Luna y Sarmiento (1639-1647) to accelerate the construction process of the Fuerte de Santa Dorotea de la Luna in Chorrera that would protect the mouth of the Almendares river. The place where the fortress would be located, was chosen by the Captain Juan Alférez that also developed the plan of the fortress and made the cost analysis. Álvaro de Luna y Sarmiento summoned the Italian military engineer and architect Juan Bautista Antonelli from Santiago de Cuba that was entrusted the construction of the Morro Castle in Santiago de Cuba. He was also the son of the architect that built the Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro and the Castillo de la Punta. The necessary money for the construction (20.000 ducats in total) was collected from the neighbors, as Álvaro de Luna y Sarmiento was tired of waiting for the financial contribution of Mexico.

After the construction process of 3 years, Juan Batista Antonelli completed the Fuerte de Santa Dorotea de la Luna de la Chorrera, popularly known as Torreón de la Chorrera, in 1646. The name of the tower originates from the first settlers of the region. In 1647 the Spanish king received the notification that the Torreón de la Chorrera had been finished. In the meantime, another torreón was built in Cojimar (municipality of Habana del Este, 7 km east of the city of Havana) that would control the mouth of the river with the same name and support the defense system of Havana.

Originally the shape of the tower of Chorrera was round and it had a solid stone structure. The tower had two levels. Antonelli built cisterns, warehouse and barracks for the soldiers inside. The tower had a capacity of 50 armed persons. The access to the tower was conceived from external fixed scalars that was connected by a drawbridge to the building. The construction had a height of 12 meters. The first line of cannons was positioned on a height of about 6 meters, and 6 cannons were stationed on the deck of the tower, so that 11 cannons at minimum were looking to the sea.

During the British siege of Havana, the Torreón de la Chorrera was destroyed by cannon fire from the British warships, so that the British troops could land on the Chorrera region and invaded the hill of  Aróstegui (current Cerro neighborhood)and Guanabacoa, from where they shelled the Morro castle by cannon fire. Colonel Luis de Aguiar led resistance to two British warships around the torreón until the ammunition ran out and the tower was destroyed almost completely.

The Torreón de la Chorrera that we see today, is that one that was built on the place of the former tower that had fallen into ruin.  This time it was built in rectangular shape and it was smaller than the former with a capacity of 28 soldiers. Six cannons were placed on the deck, four of them were rather heavy cannons.

In 1931 the Torreón de la Chorrera was given to the service of the Cuban Navy.

Today the Torreón de la Chorrera is a place at the exit of the Almendares river where you can take a breeze in the small cafe right next to the entrance that is ideal for a snack at any time of the day with varied and refreshing gastronomic offers in the accompany of the penetrating smell of the sea. The restaurant inside, known as known as Mesón de La Chorre, is decorated with armor and ornamental cannons and enlivened with Spanish music. It is a good place to taste the Creole and Cuban dishes together. You can also enjoy the Havana sunset and the impressive view of the city from the top of the tower.

In close proximity you will find the classic 1830 Restaurant, famous with its Piano Bar and dance performances, accompanied by Cuban music, in its gardens every night.