Fuerte San Gil is a colonial fortress built between 1503 and 1510 in Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone, Dominican Republic. This three-sided polygon fortification anchors the historic city walls where they meet the Caribbean Sea, originally constructed to protect the coastal settlement from pirate and marauder attacks. Known historically as Fuerte del Matadero, the fortress served as a critical maritime bastion during the Spanish colonial period. Though rebuilt at the end of the 20th century after years of deterioration, its strategic position and architectural significance continue to document Santo Domingo's maritime defense heritage and colonial-era urban development.
