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Castillo San Cristóbal (San Juan)
Fortress in San Juan, Puerto Rico / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Castillo San Cristóbal (English: Saint Christopher Castle) is a fortress in the historic district of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, known as the largest fortification built by the Spanish in the New World.[2] Dating back to defense expansions following attacks by the English in 1598 and the Dutch in 1625, it was first built in 1634 as the Garita del Diablo ("devil’s sentry box") and an artillery platform.[3] Over the next 150 years, especially in the reign of King Charles III of Spain, it continued to be developed into a bastion fort to reach its largest size in 1790.[4] Rising 150 ft from the Atlantic shoreline, the three-level edifice stands on a hill at the northern coastline of San Juan Islet, guarding the land entry to Old San Juan.[5] San Cristóbal, alongside El Morro, La Fortaleza, and other forts part of the Walls of Old San Juan, protected strategically and militarily important Puerto Rico, or La Llave de las Indias (The Key to the Indies),[6] from invasion by competing world powers during the Age of Sail. It was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983.[7]
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Castillo San Cristóbal | |
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San Cristóbal | |
From top, left to right: Front of main fortification in San Cristóbal from northern section of the Walls of Old San Juan overlooking the Atlantic; Garita del Diablo ("devil’s sentry box"); curtain wall where demolished part used to connect; curtain wall and Caballero de San Miguel (Knight of San Michael) third-level battlements from historic building housing the José Julian Acosta School; main fortification of fortress; main courtyard or bailey with cisterns visible on far right; Batería y Plaza de Santa Teresa (Saint Teresa Battery and Plaza) and glacis from inside WWII bunker; Revellín de San Carlos (Saint Charles Ravelin), Revellín El Abanico (The Fan Ravelin), and Batteria de la Princesa (The Princess Battery) from third-level battlements; Contraguardia de la Trinidad (Trinity Counterguard) and deep dry moats; ramped and gated entrance from Plaza Norzagaray; panorama onto Old San Juan, San Juan Bay, and Santurce from third-level battlements | |
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General information | |
Type | Medieval fortification Citadel |
Architectural style | Classical architecture |
Location | San Juan Islet, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico |
Address | 501 Calle Norzagaray, Old San Juan, San Juan, PR, 00901 |
Coordinates | 18°28′02″N 66°06′40″W |
Construction started | 1634 |
Completed | 1790 |
Height | 150 feet |
Technical details | |
Material | Sandstone, Brick, Sand, Clay |
Size | 27 acres |
Design and construction | |
Engineer | Thomas O’Daly (1765) |
Known for | Battle of San Juan (1797) Bombardment of San Juan (1898) |
Type | Cultural |
Criteria | vi |
Designated | 1983 (7th session) |
Part of | La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico |
Reference no. | 266 |
Region | The Americas |
Designated | October 15, 1966 |
Part of | San Juan National Historic Site |
Reference no. | 66000930[1] |