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El Morro Fort
The Fuerte San Felipe del Morro is commonly known as El Morro. It is one of the largest fortresses built by the Spaniards in the Caribbean, and sits on top of a high promontory overlooking the San Juan Bay. The fort was built from 1539 and completed in 1787. It has withstood attacks by Sir Francis Drake in 1595 and the Dutch fleet in 1625. The fort’s lighthouse was destroyed by American ships in 1898 during the Spanish-American War. The walls of the fort measure 60 feet tall, cannons still guard the harbor below. Hidden passages connect different sections of the massive structure, while the lawns and trails once used by soldiers are now used by families.
San Cristóbal Fort
Covering 27 acres, this is the largest fort built by the Spaniards in the Caribbean. While El Morro protects the harbor, San Cristobal overlooks the eastern gate to the walled city of Old San Juan, and designed to protect the city from attacks by land. The fort was constructed in 1634 and completed in 1790, although modifications and renovations have taken place over the years. The outside walls are 150 feet tall, rising from the rocks below on the north shore. The fort’s ramparts are interesting historical site and provide panoramic view from Old San Juan to Condado. A maze of tunnels crisscrosses deep underground to the dungeons, while above the intricate defense system employed by the Spaniards can be examined on the guided tour. The legend of the Garita del Diablo is popular among visitors. It tells of a sentry box that devoured soldiers sent there on guard.
San Jose Church
San Jose Church is located in Old San Juan and dates back to the 1530s. It was initially a Dominican monastery and chapel dedicated to Saint Thomas Aquinas, but was renamed by the Jesuits who took over in 1865. It is one of two gothic churches in Puerto Rico; the other one being Porta Coeli in San German. Juan Ponce de Leon, Puerto Rico’s first governor, dedicated the wooden 16th century crucifix to the church, and was originally buried here. His body was moved to the San Juan Cathedral, but his coat of arms still marks a wall and his bronze statue, made from British canons captured in 1797, stands in the middle of a little plaza in front of the church. The church is famous for its architectural details and the 15th century altar that had been brought in from Cadiz, Spain. Located next to the church is a Dominican Convent, which is now home of the Puerto Rico Institute of Culture.
Porta Coeli Museum
Porta Coeli was built in 1606 and is one of the oldest churches on US territory. It is a tiny Gothic church located in the town of San German and contains many of its original furnishings. It has a collection of religious art including colonial paintings and wooden altarpieces dating back to the 18th and 19th century. The church is of great architectural and historical value, and as you climb the ancient staircase you can look down on the plaza and centuries-old homes below. The town of San German also has historical value and was founded in 1573, making it one of the oldest towns on the island. It represents Puerto Rico of the past with its plazas, quaint streets, coffee plantation and restored historic homes.
