Puerto Rico Day 4: San Juan’s Historic Forts

28 December 2021 6 km / 4 mi (map)

  • Added to Eric Scouten :: Travel on 5 January 2022
  • Puerto Rico 9

Today we walked through the old city and its historic forts.

I love the blue bricks used to pave the streets in the historic district.

Is it me, or are the Three Wise Men looking a bit grumpy? Especially the one on the right.

We started at the Castillo San Felipe del Morro, at the very northwest corner of the city. This fort helped Spanish and later American forces to defend the island until it was retired in 1961 to become a museum and park.

Sitio Histórico de San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Sitio Histórico de San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico · by Lisa Rozmyn
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Sitio Histórico de San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico · by Lisa Rozmyn
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Sitio Histórico de San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico · by Lisa Rozmyn
Sitio Histórico de San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico

We then walked along the north coast, where we skirted the la Perla (the Pearl) neighborhood.

by Lisa Rozmyn

That walk led us to Castillo de San Cristóbal, the eastern counterpart to Castillo San Felipe del Morro. This fort was designed to protect San Juan from attacks from land. It, too, has been retired from military service and is now open for visitors to explore and enjoy.

Castillo de San Cristóbal, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Castillo de San Cristóbal, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Castillo de San Cristóbal, San Juan, Puerto Rico

At this point it was early afternoon, and the heat and humidity got to us. We found an outdoor restaurant for lunch and appreciated the cool of an afternoon rainstorm:

El Balcón del Moreno, San Juan, Puerto Rico
El Balcón del Moreno, San Juan, Puerto Rico

In the evening, we set out for another walk around the city.

Capilla del Santo Cristo de la Salud, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Paseo del Morro, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Paseo del Morro, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Paseo del Morro, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Departamento de Estado de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
The Cave, San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan, Puerto Rico · 6 km / 4 mi
(Mouse over or tap on the markers to see the photos there.)

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