Castillo San Felipe del Morro

Castillo San Felipe del Morro is a 16th-century Spanish colonial fortification perched on a headland at the northwestern tip of Old San Juan, commanding the entrance to the harbor. Construction began in 1539 under the Spanish Crown, and the fort was named in honor of King Philip II of Spain; over two centuries it was expanded into a six-level bastion complex that repelled attacks by English and Dutch fleets. In 1983 UNESCO designated El Morro and the surrounding city walls a World Heritage Site. Above ground, sweeping grass lawns draw kite-flyers and offer unobstructed Atlantic panoramas; below, a maze of tunnels, dungeons, and casemates tells a darker story of garrison life and siege warfare. A 19th-century lighthouse still crowns the uppermost battery, marking the harbor entrance as it has for generations.