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In the middle of the city of flowers, (Heredia) a mysterious tower
greets its neighbors and visitors. The tower lies serene and mature
with the marks of time on its foundation, as it remains in the memory
of each of its children who have untiringly marched for years in
front of it, showing off their best music and clothing. El Fortín
(The Fort) of Heredia is both a source of pride and a characteristic
symbol for the people who live in the city of Heredia.
El Fortín was constructed in 1896 by then military commander
and Mayor of Heredia, Fadrique Gutiérrez, and stands just
over thirteen meters high. The principal objective of the construction
of the fort was to protect the most vulnerable point of Heredia’s
City Hall. The body of the fort is constructed by large unfinished
stones and a white,
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mud/lime mineral mixture while
the doorframe and tower that holds the arm openings were made with
brick.
In 1882 it was decided that
the fort would be demolished however, due to the high cost of demolishing
the building, it was later decided that the fort would not be destroyed
after all.
On November 2nd, 1974, the fort was declared a National Monument
under the administration of ex-president, Daniel Oduber (1974-1978).
Due to its worn structure, the Fort is currently closed to the public
and can only be appreciated from behind the banister that surrounds
it.
The fort has also been a source of inspiration to contemporary architects
and the image of the fort crowns the main entrance of the mall Paseo
de las Flores, a commercial center inaugurated in 2004.
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