Castillo San Felipe del Morro in Puerto Rico

#ElMorroFortPuertoRico
Castillo San Felipe del Morro is located in Old San Juan Puerto Rico and was an important military outpost first for Spain plus later the United States.

Early History
It was actively used as a military installation during both World Wars, when finally in 1961 the US Army retired El Morro and passed it on to the National Park Service

KeyTip
 El Morro is open seven days per week from 9.30am-4.30pm with the entrance fee of (a great value)  $10.00 for adults and children under age 15 is free,
 plus there are Park Rangers who will give you a tour in either English or Spanish which is included in the admission
Also with that pass it will allow you to visit the other fort of Castillo San Cristobal within the City of San Juan, which has a free trolley that will take you to the entrance of that historical structure

Strategic Location
In 1508 Juan Ponce de Leon (Christopher Columbus lieutenant) moved the existing settlement to what is now Old San Juan and named the city Puerto Rico (Rich Port)
Which around 1522 the names were interchanged, thus the island became Puerto Rico and the
capital San Juan

Because of the islands position in the Caribbean it was nicknamed The Gateway to The New World
 So the European powers knew whoever controlled Puerto Rico would be in charge of the ocean routes from the Americas to Europe

 Long Building Phase
Thus the construction by the Spanish of El Morro started in 1539, but it took around
250 years to complete

Underwater Combat
During the Second World War, the United States used El Morro to track the movements of German submarines in the Caribbean 

In the beginning it was a lopsided affair as the U-Boats sunk 300+ ships with only 12 of their
war machinery lost
 But the Allies regrouped and soon organized a more effective anti-submarine warfare which drove the adversary out of the area

Dark Past
El Morro is made up of six levels with dungeons, barracks, passageways and storerooms 

Draconian Conditions
The holding cells of the fort were of extreme punishment on their own
They had an overwhelming combination of darkness, stifling heat, rodents, insects and isolation all which eliminated the need for further torture instruments

 Watchtowers or Lookout Posts 
Purposely built to have strategic viewing points towards the ocean which allowed the guards to spot and warn of approaching enemy ships

 Garitas
Its now an iconic symbol of Puerto Rico and is recognized with the island for
its colonial heritage

Numerous Failed Attempts
One of the ramps that take you to the many levels of the fort which was never
taken through the sea
Many tried like Sir Francis Drake and the Dutch, but the military structure repelled every naval assault that came its way

Smart Military Planning
Finally in 1598 an English invasion force (20 ships plus 1700 men) captured the fort by landing their troops and attacking from the land, many experts considered this as the primary weakness
 which proved correct

Disease Retreat
 But the British was forced to withdraw weeks later due to a dysentery epidemic, so were unable to maintain control of the island
 In which the Commander Sir George Clifford ordered the city of San Juan to be sacked and
burned to the ground

Citadel Dimensions
For over 500 years El Morro (with its 40 foot high  and 20 feet wide walls) defended the island
from all sea attacks

Lesson Learned
But after the British land invasion with that insight of their weakness, the Spanish sent more resources to rebuild and to expand the citys fortifications
This lead to the eventual construction of the massive Castillo San Cristobal  to guard against
 land based assaults

New Rulers
  United States with its more sophisticated military technology won the Spanish-American War in 1898, then it had the fort transferred to its name

Historic Site Nomination
UNESCO designated Castillo San Felipe Del Morro as a World Heritage Landmark in 1983
Allow yourself a half a day to explore all the tunnels, rooms, read all the information and of course some great photography opportunities

Top Place of Interest
Today El Morro is the most visited tourist attraction in Puerto Rico especially now with all its Cruise Ship visits that the island welcomes
( if you are a passenger make sure your on top deck as you enter the harbor to view
 this massive structure) 

Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis
Looking out from the fort we see the cemetery which was constructed in 1863 with
its 40 foot high walls
The Spanish purposely put the site here, as the ocean has a symbolic meaning which represents
 the spirits journey to the afterlife

 Garita del Diablo
Not sure if i found the right one but as legend has it the "Devils Sentry Box" tells of a solider who vanished from his post while on duty one night
With some attributing his disappearance to the devil, but the sane people 😄whispered of a secret elopement with a local gal

This Lighthouse
 Built in 1846, it was the first for Puerto Rico

Many Lives
 The Americans rebuilt the tower in 1908, which by this time was the fourth structure
Moving onto 1962, the light was automated thus the resident lighthouse keepers were out of work

Celebration
Finally in the 1990s, the building was restored to its original appearance by the
 US National Park Service as part of the quincentennial commemoration
 of the Christopher Columbus historic arrival
 

Filming Location
Was used for a few movies including; 
A) Amistad where it represented a fort in Sierra Leone
B) Blue Beetle had it as both the villains fortress and the heroes headquarters
C) Thunder Island for an extensive chase plus shootout scenes

 
Walking on History
As i make my way back from El Morro in Old San Juan, you cannot help but notice the cobblestone streets which are full of stories and i find out dates back to the late 16th Century

Origin
It came from the blue stone cast from the furnace slag and ballasts of the Spanish ships
 Which then replaced that stability material with the silver that they raided from South America to return to the Mother Land

Purpose of the Grid 
The cobblestones then were laid out in a pattern that allowed the rainwater to drain efficiently preventing flooding and erosion

Today
  Since then it has survived; the passage of time, hurricanes and earthquakes  

Reversed Colors
The design is an exact color reversal of the Cuban Flag, showing the close alliance between the two countries and the independence fighters in the 19th century