City Wall – La Muralla

City Wall – “La Muralla”

San Juan, Puerto Rico

City Wall – La Muralla
City Wall – “La Muralla”

The City Wall of San Juan, also known as “La Muralla”, is a defensive wall system that surrounds the western end of the Islet of San Juan, site of the historic Old San Juan district in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This defensive wall system was built between the 16th and 20th centuries to protect the city and the Bay of San Juan, a highly strategic point in the Caribbean.

The wall is made of limestone and brick, and is up to 20 feet high in some places. It has a total length of about 2.5 miles, and includes five gates: the Puerta de San Juan, the Puerta de San José, the Puerta de Tierra, the Puerta de San Antonio, and the Puerta de San Francisco.

The wall was built in response to a series of attacks on San Juan by pirates and other European powers. The first fort, Castillo San Felipe del Morro, was built in the 1500s, and the wall was gradually expanded over the next few centuries. The wall was last used in battle in 1898, during the Spanish-American War.

Today, the wall is a popular tourist destination. It offers stunning views of the city and the bay, and is a great place to walk or bike.

Here are some interesting facts about the City Wall of San Juan:

  • It is the oldest and most complete defensive wall system in the Americas.
  • It was built by slaves and laborers, and took over 200 years to complete.
  • The wall has 15 bastions, which are small forts that were used to defend the wall.
  • The wall has 17 gunports, which are openings where cannons could be fired.
  • The wall has 5 gates, which were the only ways into the city.

The City Wall of San Juan is a testament to the ingenuity and skill of the Spanish engineers who built it. It is also a reminder of the important role that San Juan played in the history of the Caribbean.

Address and Map:

Physical address:
City Wall – “La Muralla”
FV8J+354 Caleta de San Juan
San Juan, PR, 00902

The wall is a popular tourist destination. It offers stunning views of the city and the bay, and is a great place to walk or bike.

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