La Fortaleza and the sorrounding San Juan Wall
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La Fortaleza, also known as Palacio de Santa Catalina. Its construction began in 1533 and finalized on May 25th of 1540 as a fortress.
It was authorized to be built by Carlos V (King Charles V of Spain) as a defense against Carib Indian attacts. The building was the first of a series
of military facilities constructed in the San Juan Bay, but soon proved to be inadequate to guard the entrance to the harbor and became the official Governor's Residence.
The oldest governor's mansion still used as such in Western Hemisphere and part of the old city's World Heritage Site. It has been occupied twice by invaders; by the Earl
of Cumberland in 1598 and by the Dutch General Bowdoin Hendrick in 1625 when the building was damaged by fire.
A major reconstruction began in 1640. In 1846, the building was remodeled and given a palatial aspect, uniting harmoniously 16th century military architecture with the refinements of the 19th century. It has been the home of over
170 governors of Puerto Rico and is the official residence of the current governor. Although the original structure (Palatial Building with sorrounding gardens) was very
primitive, La Fortaleza has undergone numerous changes over its 478 years of history. Open Mon-Fri 9:00am to 4:00pm.