Image courtesy of Nuestro Stories.
Puerto Rico has been a historically hotly contested territory since colonization, and the San Juan National Historic Site preserves much of this history.
San Juan National Historic Site is a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO in 1983. It is formed by a series of buildings dating back to the Spanish colonization, whose strategic points of locations served to protect San Juan from foreign attacks.
The Fortaleza
32 years after the arrival of Columbus to Puerto Rico, the Spanish blueprint began. The first construction they made was Casa Blanca, where the first settlers of the island lived. The construction that followed was La Fortaleza, also known as Palacio de Santa Catalina, between 1533 and 1540. It became the first defensive fortification of the city.
The fortress witnessed many reconstructions. The Spaniards realized they had made a mistake with the position where it was located, so they started with the next building, the Castillo de San Felipe del Morro.
Castillo San Felipe del Morro
"El Morro"’s construction began in 1539 and underwent constant repairs and renovations for 250 years. Something that adds to its historical value is that it helped protect Puerto Rico in 1797 from British attacks.
Castillo de San Cristóbal
Castillo de San Cristóbal was built to protect the city of San Juan from ground attacks from the east. Beneath it is a series of tunnels that saved soldiers from enemy fire and allowed for the safe movement of troops, weapons, and supplies.
Fortin San Juan de la Cruz
Also known as Cañuelo, the fortress is located in Islas de Cabras, in front of the Fort of San Felipe del Morro. This strategic site served to provide crossfire to El Morro and additional protection of the entrance to the port.
Things to know before you go
- The Fortaleza served to protect against attacks by French, English, and Dutch pirates. A Dutch force largely burned it in 1625.
- The Fortaleza was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960.
- El Morro also served as a military fort for the United States Army between 1898 and 1961.
- The Castillo San Cristobal is considered the largest fortress built in America.
Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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