El Morro, Protector of Puerto Rico
One of the outstanding features of San Juan is the old Spanish citadel at El Morro. Located on an arrowhead-shaped promontory jutting across the entrance to San Juan Bay, El Morro was perfectly placed to protect the harbor and city from foreign invasion. El Morro, known officially as Fort San Felipe del Morro (or El Castillo San Felipe del Morro in Spanish) was originally constructed in the early 16th century, shortly after Spanish colonizers settled at San Juan and noted the promontory’s advantageous position. Today, El Morro is one of the main features of the San Juan National Historic Site which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
