Fort San Felipe del Morro is undoubtedly an unprecedented landmark, A designated World heritage site since 1983. Its amazing vistas of San Juan Bay that overlooks the thickly blanketed clouds hovering over the skies is simply magical. Long before our time, Fort El morro stood with its powerfull cannons to defend the city by Privateers and other european countries. The sound of the waves pounding with force can be heard from far away. For hundreds of years the rampart walls made entirely of sandstone blocks served as a shield to protect the most sacred city in the americas, San Juan.
El Morro, "El Promontory", today stands high above sea level. Its initial creation had begun in 1539 by Italian Engineer Juan Bautista Antonelli in a time of history when French corsairs looted towns in Puerto Rico. Who would have known that Fort San Felipe, seen with such massive layers of armed batteries would someday rise to become the oldest fortification ever built in the new world and recognized worldwide as UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE.
For the King of Spain, El Castillo del Morro represented more than just a citadel, it's presence by far inflicted suffering and agony to Pirates such as Sir. Francis Drake, known as "El Draque" the most hated Privateer who stole the riches looting Spanish Galleons and denting the lives of young Spanish soldiers in the most gruesome way possible. But in 1595, The britist had suffered the most humiliating defeat by the hands of those brave Spanish Spaniards. At the end, the news of the British defeat did not well for Queen Elizabeth of England.
Sir Francis drake once a hero in his own rights, the man who rose to the pinnacle of wealth, power, and the reputation of instilling fear on those who challenged him, had at last paid the price of defeat. Yes, his legacy came finally to a sudden death the following year in 1596. El Morro Castle had stood for hundreds of years as the driving force that protected and defended alongside the Intrepid valiant men dressed in armored suits with swords.
The Spanish Flag, La Cruz Borgonia today rises high above Fort El morro as a symbol that reaches far beyond than just pride and honor, these brave warriors dressed in armor suits and swords were willing to die for their Country. Never did they feared those who repudiated them. By 1765, El morro castle began a massive undertaking along with Fort St. Christobal of unprecedented nature. Alexander Oreilly who had served for the Spanish Crown had arrived in San Juan to expand its miliary defenses bringing military engineered at its maximum peak.
By 1785 Fort El morro, stood as a powerful force that included underground Tunnels, Cannons, ramps and massive walls between eighteen to twenty-five feet thick. Fort San Felipe del Morro today, A landmark full of stories and history is a place of remembrance stemming five centuries. Definitely a place worth visiting on your vacation to Puerto Rico.
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