Castillo San Felipe del Morro
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Military fortress in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Description
Castillo San Felipe del Morro is a military fortress in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, that stands on a peninsula above the Atlantic. The fortress has six levels with gun emplacements, storage rooms, a courtyard and a chapel, all connected by ramps and stairs.
History
Construction began in 1539 under King Charles I of Spain, when workers built a first fortification on the rock. The complex was expanded many times over the next two centuries and reached its present form during the reign of Charles III.
Culture
The hexagonal fortress takes its name from Saint Philip and a rocky headland that juts into the sea. Today families from San Juan fly kites on open days and gather on the wide lawns in front of the old walls.
Practical
The site sits at the northwestern edge of the old town and can be reached on foot from streets in the historic center. The National Park Service manages the fortress and opens it daily for visitors in the morning and afternoon.
Did you know?
A lighthouse still stands on the fortress and has sent light signals to ships for over a century. The tower was rebuilt after a hurricane in the 19th century and has operated continuously since then.
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