Great visit to Castillo San Felipe del Morro on a Sunday morning…read more Arrived when they opened up at 9am and there was no wait to get in. Spectacular views of the castle itself as well the surrounding areas. Lots of history about the castle displayed through some great exhibits. Lots of walking, hills and some stairs throughout...so be sure to wear comfortable shoes. Great gift shop. Friendly and helpful staff throughout. Admission fee is $10, but grants access to Castillo San Felipe del Morro as well as the nearby Castillo San Cristobal up until the following day...so be sure to take advantage and visit both within that period. There is a reasonably-priced nearby parking garage (Ballaja Parking Garage) just a short walk to the entrance. There is also free street parking along Bulevar del Valle in the early morning hours.

Checking out El Morro (Castillo San Felipe del Morro) in San Juan, PR was 1 of those experiences…read morethat really stays w/ you long after you leave. This historic Spanish fort was built in the 1500s & played a major role in defending San Juan from sea attacks during the colonial era. Walking through it, you can really feel the weight of that history. The thick stone walls, open courtyards, tunnels, and lookout points all reflect how strategic & intense life had to be back then, especially w/ the constant threat of war & invasion. What really hit me most emotionally was just being there & taking it all in. Standing on the grounds overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, it was easy to imagine what it must have been like centuries ago(soldiers watching the horizon, waiting for ships to appear). There's something powerful about physically being in a place that played such a major role in PR's history. It was honestly a really memorable moment for me. Not just b/c of what I learned, but b/c of how it felt being surrounded by so much history in 1 place. It gave me a deeper appreciation for San Juan & the stories built into the island itself.

We stopped for a photo along the way to El Morro, it's a nice little moment along the walk. The…read morefountain itself is really eye catching...bronze figures coming out of the water that represent Puerto Rico's Taíno, African, and Spanish roots. The whole area along Paseo de la Princesa is a pretty walk, especially with the ocean nearby and the breeze coming through. It's a great photo op on the way to El Morro. Quick, scenic, and worth the pause before continuing on.

It truly is a beautiful sculpture and fountain when seen walking along Paseo de la Princesa in Old…read moreSan Juan. According to the plaque in front of the fountain, "This group of sculptures symbolizes the roots that gave birth to Puerto Rico's cultural heritage." Think of it as a ship arriving by sea through the city's harbor. The horse at the bow is pulling an island with a Goddess who is serving as the tallest mast on the ship. That island is Puerto Rico. There are sculptures around her that represent Puerto Rico's close family heritage, welcoming spirit, music, and dance. The dolphins represent the Puerto Rican character. It's a mixture of all of these rooted qualities that make it such a beautiful and vibrant country. The fountain is a great sight to see even on an overcast day. The Puerto Rican and American flags are in the background with the ocean view and seawall. But, this is only the end of the promenade and the beginning of more to come. Don't just stop at the fountain. The Paseo de la Princesa continues as you walk along it's path to the right in the direction of El Morro. It's a walk along the fortress wall that leads you to the San Juan Gate and Paseo del Morro. The sounds and views are amazing! It was all a very memorable experience.

It's the square that was built in 1992 to mark the 500th Anniversary (5 centuries) of the Spanish…read morediscovery of Puerto Rico. It's used today for gatherings, and as a place to chill & relax while transitioning from the castle to the rest of the city. At first glance, it looks similar to a miniature version of the Spanish Steps. The bronze sculptures on both sides of the steps represent the Lamb of God in Puerto Rico's Coat of Arms. But in actuality, it's the Telluric Totem sculpture by Jaime Suárez that is really the main focal point here. It's definitely hard to miss. It tells the story of the indigenous American people (Taino) who once lived here. The broken pieces of simulated ancient pottery sticking out from the concrete pole symbolizes the struggle between the Spanish settlers and the Taino people. It totally looks like it's made out of wood, but it's mostly made out of pottery and ceramic. You have to zoom up closely to see it. That's when you truly see its beauty. The plaza, as a whole, combines the Taino with the Spanish influence to make it a symbol of Puerto Rican heritage. Well, that's kind of how I saw it. Others may interpret it differently. I just wish that the plaza looked better than it did on the day we were there. It may look brighter on dry days. There was a little rain shower that may have affected the way it looks from the other side of the plaza with the steps. It was still a great area to stop for a breather before continuing on with sightseeing.

open space in Old San Juan that's easy to spot because of the massive Tótem Telúrico rising above…read morethe plaza. I was just passing through, but the monument and large stairway caught my attention. The area has a unique look compared to the surrounding historic streets and offers a nice place to stop, take photos, and appreciate another piece of history.

It's the cute stone chapel that was built on the city wall near La Fortaleza at the end of Calle…read moredel Cristo in the late 1800s. The legend is that Baltazar Montañez lost control of his horse during a race and they both fell over the wall (or cliff). He was miraculously saved by divine intervention. The chapel was built at that very same spot of the miracle. Another account of the story is that he didn't survive the fall, and that the chapel was built to prevent this type of accident from ever happening again. Maybe the real story is somewhere in between the lines. Did he survive and later succumb to his injuries? Either way, it's a believable part of history which brings people to this chapel looking for miracles. The facade and bell tower make it look even more mysterious, and especially at nighttime. This is my second time visiting it. I've never been inside it. It's usually closed to the public to protect the religious relics inside. Try visiting it in the afternoon on a weekend. You may have a better chance of entering the chapel. Don't forget to visit Pigeon Park while you're there.

The legend says that the chapel of the Cristo de la Salud was erected to honor a miracle…read more Legend has it that for the years 1750 or so, there had been a horse race along the Cristo Street. One of the participants could not stop his horse and fell down the cliff. Don Tomás Mateo Prats, who was Secretary of Government for that time, invoked the Santo Cristo de la Salud and that the young man who fell off the precipice was saved. Thanking the Santo Cristo de la Salud, Don Tomás Mateo Prats ordered to build the chapel. The truth was not that. Studies by Don Adolfo de Hostos confirmed that the young man who fell down the cliff, died. Don Tomás Mateo Prats ordered to erect the Chapel to prevent future tragedies.

Awesome place during night !…read more Lights everywhere! Colors , stars, clouds, moon. I really love this place but at night, during the day you won't see the show of lights. History- this is building used to belong to the federal government. In 1976 Puertorican government acquired the building for cultural, education and tourist purposes. First floor - Dance school Cultural spaces 3 different restaurants Second floor - The museum of the Americas - nice Puertorrican expositions. Third floor - Puerto Rico Academy of Spanish language The state of Historic conservation Sometimes they have concerts, festivals , artisans fairs and many more activities. THE LIGHTS AT NIGHT are awesome!!!

Great, great coffee. Wonderful little place to walk to from Old San Juan. Highly recommend.read more

We did the tour and our Guide Francheska was fantastic. We had the opportunity to walk around the…read moregardens, the chapel, visit the Dungeon... and furthermore learn the history of this historical building. LinK: https://www.fortaleza.pr.gov/recorridos

This was the perfect area in Old San Juan to spend your day in, lots of shops and restaurants to…read morewalk around and shop.

San juan fort has a dramatic view of history set against a very beautiful scenic backdrop…read more The darkened walls , showing aging and signifying many stories, are a stark contrast to the pristine blue waters of the Atlantic Bay on one side and the San Juan Bay on the other. It is soo postcard'ish. Managed by the Unesco World Heritage site, It is a ticketed costing about $10 per visitor. It spans almost 500 years of military history, and the city kind of has developed around it through the time. I would guess first came the fort, then the city as this is right in the heart of San Juan. It does get hot. It has soo much ground to cover and interesting things to see and read about, without a hat and cooling glasses it would be difficult to keep up. You will catch a lot of people crowding time to tike at the little places of shadow to catch a breath and a sip of water before they continue- that reminds me, carry a water bottle. It is known to be the oldest European - designed defense system featuring multi level ramps probably to drag the equipment, but today, that helps people with strollers. Definitely recommend a visit.

This square shaped fort is situated at the Western end of the entrance to San Juan Bay to provide…read moreearly warning and protect the city from invaders. It was the smallest fort in the harbor defense system. The fort has a storied history. It was originally built between 1608 and 1610 and was made of wood. It burned to the ground in 1625 during a Dutch attack. However, the Spaniards replaced it with a stone fort between 1630 and 1660. Additionally, the U.S. Navy bombarded the fort in 1898 during the Spanish-American War, but the fort survived. This is a historical fort that is managed by the US Parks Service. They charge admission, but the military members get free admission. The fort has four levels and a lot of stairs. The fort is well maintained and has cannons, view posts, and rooms set up as if they were back in the time the fort was in operation. They have a church, bunk room, artillery/battery storage. The tour of the fort is self guided and there are a bunch of informational placards to help you along your way. The fort is very well maintained. I really enjoyed my visit. I will note that there is a lot of walking involved in touring this site, so wear some comfortable shoes. You can get a wonderful view of the bay from teh fort and some awesome photos as well. I spent about an hour to an hour and a half here. It was part of my self paced tour of the city's attractions. I recommend putting this place on the top of your list when visiting San Juan. Fun Fact: Originally, the fort was completely surrounded by water. The only way to get there was by boat. In the early 1800's, iThe fort was used to isolate the city's residents that were sick from infectious diseases like leprosy and cholera. The fort area was made into a penninsula in 1943 when the US Corps of Engineers dredged the entrance of the San Juan bay to allow large war ships and submarines access to the port. The dredged material was used to fill and connect the fort to the mainland.

Bastión de las Palmas de San José in Old San Juan, was built in the 17th century in 1625 after the…read moreDutch attacked. Two green-colored benches, a railing, and a masonry wall made out of stone and bricks can be observed. Bastión de las Palmas de San José was later turned into a park. The San Juan Bay and the coast of the municipality can be seen from a distance.

A this is a nice little park with a great view…read more We found it by walking down some streets just to ser what is down there.