Spanish American War
The well-known Spanish historian Gonzálo Fernández de Oviedo, who observed La Fortaleza during its construction in 1537, commented: “Only blind men would choose such a place for a fortification”. The fortification, continued Oviedo, would have had to be constructed as high as a watchtower on the Morro, the rocky promontory at the entrance to the bay. The words of Oviedo seem to have been heeded because in 1540, construction was commenced on the Morro headland of an arched tower with four embrasures for cannons and a battery platform. This defense was known as the original tower and the floating battery, due to its proximity to the sea. After a time, the tower fell into disuse because when the cannons were fired, it filled with smoke, causing the soldiers to go outside to prevent being choked. Because of this, together with an increase in enemy attacks, work began in 1591 to build a wall which crossed the esplanade. In this manner, El Morro began for the first time to take on the appearance of a citadel.
This fortification was known as the "Palace of Santa Catalina", "La Fuerza", and later "La Fortaleza" (the stronghold). Unfortunately, the site chosen on which to build La Fortaleza lay well back from the harbor, leaving the entrance uncovered and vulnerable. Even before the construction was complete it became clear that it would be necessary to build another fort on a more appropriate site. La Fortaleza fell into disuse as a military stronghold and was converted instead into a home for the island’s Administrator. Today, it is the home of the Governor of Puerto Rico, making it the oldest Governor’s residence still in use in the hemisphere.
This tower, together with the floating battery, were the beginnings of what is known today as the Castle of San Felipe del Morro (the rocky headland), in honor of King Philip II of Spain. This fortification, which was commenced in 1540 and was completed around 1790, dominates the entrance to the bay of San Juan. Its prime function was to protect the bay from Spain’s enemies. This was achieved by building walls, some extending 140 feet above the sea, and various tiers of gun embrasures whose cannons would destroy enemy ships trying to force an entrance into San Juan harbor.
San Felipe is the oldest of the Castles which formed the center of San Juan’s defense system. It is triangular in shape when viewed from the sea, with two bastions joined by a wall or "curtain". This sixth level is the highest and is called the "hornwork" which, with its embrasures directed inland, could repel an attack from the landward direction. Through a drawbridge in the center of the wall one enters the fifth level, the parade ground or "square". This square contains sections (casemates) with embrasures and cannons which face towards the entrance of the bay. Also located here is the main artillery ramp leading to the fourth level, which is known as the main battery or the battery of Santa Barbara. It is on this fourth level that we find the most gun embrasures, giving cover over an area of almost 180 degrees, from the north (Atlantic) coast to the entrance and part of the interior of the bay. Stairs then lead down to the third level, with these are a series of enclosures and rooms with various uses, such as gun embrasures, dormitories, stores, kitchens, latrines, and a forge for working iron. Entering one of these rooms we find a short tunnel which takes us to the interior of the original tower (the second level) with its ancient gun embrasures (now closed off), and the floating battery, the first level. The cannons in this floating battery were intended to fire at the hulls of enemy ships in order to sink them. The cannon balls could also be heated to a glowing red before being fired, in order to start fires on the wooden ships.
San Juan National Historic Site, Fort San Cristobal, Norzagaray Street, San Juan, PR 00901
Telephone: (787) 729-6777
Last Update: March, 2000