El Morro Puerto Rico History, Turret At Historical El Morro Fort In Old San Juan Puerto Rico Stock Photo Alamy

A brief history of el morro late 1400s in 1493 christopher columbus cristobal colon in spanish discovered puerto rico and claimed it for spain.

5 star puerto rico resorts. El morro is puerto ricos most popular historic site. It would serve to defend the puerto rican port of san juan and to control entry to this same port. The purpose of the fort was two fold.

A little known fact is that columbus called the whole island san juan in honor of saint john the baptist. It is is a large fortress that dates back to the 16th century. Also in 1992 plaza del quinto centenario is built across castillo san felipe del morro.

El morro is made up of six staggered levels incorporating dungeons barracks passageways and storerooms. El morro now generates tourism revenue by being open to tours. Facing the atlantic ocean and situated in what is now known as old san juan the capital citys historic district el morro bridges the past with.

In 1983 the fort was declared a world heritage site by the united nations for its historical significance and for its astounding military engineering of stout walls carefully planned steps and ramps for moving men and artillery. The fortress is one of the most impressive structures on the island encapsulating puerto ricos role as a guardian of the new worldwithin these walls you can feel the awesome power this bastion of defense once commanded and you can bear witness to nearly 500 years of military history that began with the. Castillo de san felipe del morro is a fort that sits majestically on the northeastern coast of puerto rico in the capital city of san juan.

Castillo san felipe del morro was finished in time to help protect puerto rico when the british attacked with considerable resources in 1797. Castillo san felipe del morro commonly known as el morro is a fortification built in san juan dating back to the 16th century when puerto rico was under spanish rulenow a word heritage site it is one of puerto ricos most iconic structures. Walk along its ramparts where cannons still face the ocean and step inside one of the domed garitas or sentry boxes which are themselves an iconic symbol of puerto rico.

One hundred years later though when the spanish american war broke out in 1898 the story was completely different. El morro was designated a unesco world heritage site in 1983. The history of el morro or the castillo san felipe del morro as it is also known sees construction of the sturdy fort beginning in 1539 under the authorization of king charles v of spain.

Castillo san felipe del morro in old san juan puerto rico. First time visitors to old san juan simply cannot leave without visiting el morro.