Historical Puerto Rico in Castillo de San Cristóbal
Resting within proximity of the fine hotels in Puerto Rico dotting Old San Juan, the Castillo de San Cristóbal is site not to be missed when visiting the Caribbean hot spot. Established as a military fortress to protect Spain colonial claims to the island, where other forts where built historically to endure advances from the sea, the Castillo de San Cristóbal was specially designed in light of land based attacks to San Juan by Dutch colonial explorers. A grand artifact of Puerto Rico’s years of colonial occupation, Castillo de San Cristóbal is a favourite attraction for both military historians and tourists seeking to trace the island’s legacy.
Though the contemporary remains of Castillo de San Cristóbal pale in comparison to the impressive 27 acres of land the fortified walls use to encircle – the extent of the Spanish colony of San Juan – visitors will nonetheless fine an impressive residual of the largest Spanish fortification constructed in the New World. Encompassing a variety of military architectural devices, perhaps the most interesting element of Castillo de San Cristóbal is its detailed subterranean tunnel system. Devised in order for troops to enter and leave the fort unobtrusively, the tunnel system acted as way to surprise enemies seeking to scale the impressive fortified walls.
A treasure trove of colonial military devices and engineering, a visit to the Castillo de San Cristóbal is as educational as it is romantic. Couples staying at the stylish Puerto Rico hotels peppered along the peninsula of Old San Juan would do well to explore the the Devil’s Guerite in Castillo de San Cristóbal. A site steeped in mystery, the white domed pavilion of the Devil’s Guerite guarantees couples quite the most ideal location for a photo-op in all of San Juan.
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