Historic information
Rising nearly 150 feet above sea level, Castillo de San Cristóbal is a massive structure that occupies most of the northeast edge of Old San Juan. Built primarily over a 20-year period (1765-1785), San Cristóbal was more than 200 years newer than Castillo San Felipe del Morro (more commonly called El Morro), Puerto Rico’s military stalwart at the time.
However, it was a much-needed addition to the city’s defenses. While El Morro guarded the bay, San Cristóbal guarded the land east of Old San Juan. Building a fortification that would protect the city from a ground invasion turned out to be a smart move. In 1797, the fort helped repel an invasion from Sir Ralph Abercrombie.
From an architectural perspective, both San Cristóbal and El Morro are castles, not forts, although they did serve an incredibly important military role. San Cristóbal’s design was ingenious and followed a pattern known as “defense in depth.” The castle is made up of multiple layers, each walled and fortified to thwart and slow down an enemy, not once, but multiple times. A walk around the fort today will show you its unusual but effective design.
The fort has seen its share of battles. He fired the first Spanish shot of the Spanish-American War. During World War II, the United States added fortifications to its outer walls. Despite everything, it has withstood the tests of time and war. However, in 1942 the US added military bunkers and concrete pillboxes to the fortress, which detracts from the original structure, and unfortunately they are still an ocular repository today.
Important information for the visitor
A visit to San Cristóbal gives you the opportunity to walk on the parapet where you can gaze into the canyon of a canyon on the cruise ships that dock in San Juan Bay or in El Morro at the eastern end of the old city. You can enter a Garita , or guardhouse, and look over the water. And you can see Old San Juan spread out before you.
The area that combines El Morro and San Cristóbal is known as the San Juan National Historic Site and is now operated by the National Park Service. An inexpensive attraction, admission to the site is only $ 5, according to the Park Service website, and you have the option of exploring the site yourself or taking a guided tour. If you choose the latter, which is a free service, you may have the opportunity to hold one of the bayonets at the soldier’s barracks, take a tour of the tunnels below, or simply learn more about the castle’s history.
Standard hours for the park are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and it is open to the public year-round, rain or shine. Depending on the severity of the dangerous weather conditions, the park may close, so be sure to check the website for the most up-to-date information. Children of all ages are admitted, provided they are accompanied by an adult. Pets are allowed on the grounds of the San Juan National Historic Site, but not in the fortified areas.
