Campeche's Sea Gate
As an elementary part of the wall of Campeche, the Puerta de Mar was built together with the canvas that faced the sea at the end of the 17th century. The gate reached all the way to the sea where travelers disembarked and overseas merchandise was picked up.The walled enclosure had three other doors, which communicated to what was then the Villa de San Francisco de Campeche with different regions of the peninsula where the goods
that supported the port´s activity were transported
The Sea Gate was guarded by a guard body of which there are several references.
In a plan of the town of Campeche from 1734, sent by Juan Fernández de Sabariego, a small space can be seen on the pier and attached to the sea gate, which must have corresponded to the guardhouse. The same can be seen in another plan of the Villa dated 1751.
In the first complete list of the campeche square made by Juan de Dios González, it is mentioned that the Puerta de Mar had on the left, a small guard corps that housed from 4 to 5 soldiers and she was the only guard the dock had.
Years later, in July 1802, according to the plan signed by Juan José de León, a new guardhouse consisting of two rooms and a corridor was completed. The small room was intended for the commander and another larger one for the troop barracks, where the only piece of furniture for the troop rest was a platform; Attached to the body of the guard, there was a bench where the guards guarded the access to the Gate.
After several decades, in 1893, when the stretch of wall that joined the San Carlos bastion with the Nuestra Señora de la Soledad bastion was demolished, the Puerta de Mar disappeared, and was rebuilt in the It was built in 1957 and boasts a simple façade that looks towards the sea and its large arched doorway welcomes tourists who visit Campeche.
Access leads to 59th Street, a cultural walkway of the historic center of Campeche that takes you to the other end of the city towards the Puerta de Tierra.
This gate was reconstructed in 1955 in memory of the original, demolished in 1893 with its spans of wall and guardhouse
Additional Information:
If you are observant, you will notice that in the stamped concrete floor, there is a part that simulates what was the dock of the old Villa de Campeche.
Currently you can go through a part of the wall, until you reach the top of the Puerta de Mar, access is from the Museo de Arquitectura Maya in the Old Baluarte de la Soledad.
Address
Calle 8, Zona Centro, 24000 Campeche, Camp.
Visiting hours:
8:00 a.m. a 5:00 p.m. (Schedule for the tour of the wall)
Video de Puerta de Mar