La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site, Colonial military fortification complex in San Juan, Puerto Rico
La Fortaleza and the San Juan National Historic Site make up a colonial fortification system along the coast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, formed by walls, forts, barracks, and dungeons. The site includes two main forts, El Morro and San Cristóbal, connected by tall city walls that wrap around the old town.
The fortifications were built by the Spanish starting in the 16th century to protect the strategic port of San Juan and were gradually expanded over more than three centuries. After the Spanish-American War in 1898, they passed into American hands and are now managed by the National Park Service.
La Fortaleza still serves as the official residence of the governor of Puerto Rico, making it one of the oldest executive mansions in continuous use in the western hemisphere. Visitors can see the building from the outside and walk through parts of the surrounding gardens on guided visits.
Visiting early in the morning is a good idea since the open terraces and walls can get very hot later in the day. Sturdy shoes help a lot because the paths include uneven cobblestones, steep stairs, and long stretches of open ground.
El Morro was designed so that its lower walls grow directly out of the rocky headland, making it nearly impossible to target from the sea. Most attacks by water failed for this reason, while a land-based assault eventually led to the fort being taken.
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