Location: Calle del Morro, San Juan Map
Tel. 787-729 6777
Open: 9am- 6pm daily
Castillo de San Felipe del Morro or Fortaleza San Felipe del Morro is part of the defences of the Old San Juan. Its construction started in 1539 to protect an entrance to the harbour. Over two centuries it was increased and improved until 1786.
The San Felipe del Morro Castle, also known simply
as El Morro, is a 16th-century Spanish fortification built on the
northern tip of San Juan, Puerto Rico. For many years, he guarded
the entrance to San Juan Bay and protected the city from maritime
attacks. The "morro" is a term used to refer to a piece of land or
rock that serves to observe a place. This castle is part of the
National Historic Site of San Juan1 and was declared a World
Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1983.
Nowadays, El
Morro is one of the main tourist attractions of Puerto Rico, with
exhibits of articles from the colonization period used by Spaniards,
Indians and Africans. Other exhibitions show ship models, as well as
historical data of the time. Tourists and visitors enjoy flying
kites (kites) around the castle. Nearly two million visitors explore
this fortress every year.
On the other side of the bay, a
fort called Fort San Juan de la Cruz (El Cañuelo) gave support to
the San Felipe del Morro Castle in the defense of San Juan Bay.
During the attack on the city of Francis Drake in 1595, a series of
ships were placed through the entrance of the bay to prevent the
entry of enemies to it.