Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Fuerte San Cristóbal FORT
(San Cristóbal Fort; Click here ; 787-729-6777; www.nps.gov/saju ; adult/child $3/
free; 9am-6pm) San Juan's second major fort is Fuerte San Cristóbal, one of the largest
military installations the Spanish built in the Americas. In its prime, San Cristóbal covered
27 acres with a maze of six interconnected forts protecting a central core with 150ft walls,
moats, booby-trapped bridges and tunnels.
The fort was constructed to defend Old San Juan against land attacks from the east via
Puerta de Tierra. The imaginative design came from the famous Irish mercenary Alejandro
O'Reilly and his compatriot Thomas O'Daly (hired by Spain). Construction began in 1634
in response to an attack by the Dutch a decade previously, though the main period of en-
largement occurred between 1765 and 1783. Seven acres were lopped off the fort in 1897 to
ease congestion in the old town, and the following year the Spanish marked Puerto Rico's
entry into the Spanish- American War by firing at the battleship USS Yale from its cannon
battery. The fort became a National Historic site in 1949 and a Unesco World Heritage site
in 1983. Facilities include a fascinating museum, a store, military archives, a reproduction
of a soldier's barracks, and prime city views.
Entry to both Fuerte San Cristóbal and El Morro costs $5.
TUNNEL TOURS
Go deeper. And darker. Hour-long free guided tours roam the tunnels at Fuerte San
Cristóbal every Saturday (Spanish) and Sunday (English) at 10:30am. Come at least
half an hour beforehand (or earlier) to put your name on the sign-up list. Guides walk
you through three of the fort's tunnels, including one that's otherwise closed to the
public.
La Fortaleza MONUMENT
(Fortress; Click here ; 787-721-7000, ext 2211, 2358 or 2323;
www.fortaleza.gobierno.pr ; suggesteddonation$3; tours9am-3:30pmMon-Fri) A
steep climb along Recinto Oeste takes you to the top of the city wall and the guarded iron
gates of La Fortaleza. Also known as El Palacio de Santa Catalina, this imposing building
dating from 1533 is the oldest executive mansion in continuous use in the western hemi-
 
 
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