Campeche, located on the Gulf of Mexico, was the principal sea port on the Yucatán Peninsula from the 16th to the 18th centuries, and subsequently a major target of pirates such as Lorenzillo, Diego "The Mulatto" and William Parker. To protect the port from attacks, the Spanish Crown ordered the fortification of the city. Remnants of the original fortress that surrounded the entire town still stand, including ramparts and gates, giving the city a decidedly romantic, swashbuckling air. The ramparts now house museums and the Land Gate is the site of a dramatic light and sound show that relives the pirate era.