To the left of the fortress on Plaza de Armas, the Marquis de la Torre built a post office (Casa de Correos) in 1772. It subsequently housed the tax offices, and then military bureaucrats. In 1854 it became the residence of the island’s vice-captain-general and acquired its current name of Palacio del Segundo Cabo. In the early 20C it became the seat of the Senate and in 1929 the home of the supreme court. Today it houses the Cuban book institute: its patio and bookshop are open to the public.