The Forbidden Portal of Cartagena: Cross the Giant's Jaws at the Battery of Ashes

 What began as an irreverent detail on a stone tongue (see previous post) now unfolds before us as the threshold to another civilization.

We are at the Cenizas Battery. Here, 20th-century Spanish military architecture decided to pay an unexpected homage to Mesoamerican aesthetics. This monumental arch, guarded by feathered serpents that seem to have been lifted from a temple in Chichen Itza, not only frames the path; it frames the history of a coast that was always vigilant.

Built between 1930 and 1934 as part of Primo de Rivera's Plan, the foundation work began in 1929, and the pieces were installed in 1934. The facade, inspired by the Temple of the Warriors at the Chichen Itza ruins, is in the Maya-Toltec style. It features large feathered serpents representing Kukulcán. Their heads are at the base, and rattlesnakes serve as capitals.

Climbing up here is not just a physical challenge; it's a journey through time. Upon crossing this portal, you leave the 21st century behind and enter a realm of gigantic cannons and endless views of the sea. I wanted to show you the detail of its 'tongue' first because, in this corner of the Region of Murcia, even the stone has a voice and seems to laugh at the passage of time.

Are you ready to be swallowed by history and discover what lies on the other side of this neo-Mayan portal? Don't miss next post.