OLD SAN JUAN. PUERTO RICO
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| Fort San Cristobal was started in 1625 after the Danish attack on San Juan. El Morro Fort was first. |
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| Photos by Clay Humphrey: Random local people in Old San Juan at Plaza de Armas. Circa 2010 |
| A CATHOLIC COUNTRY UNDER SPANISH RULE |
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| Sitting on the steps in front of the Saint Francis of Assisi Church circa 1970. On San Francisco Street. |
THE SPANISH CROWN RULED 1508 TO 1898 |
| Old San Juan, Puerto Rico is Americas' second oldest city and was founded prior to 1521 by explorer Juan Ponce de Leon, who came with Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the New World. Old San Juan was built up as a medieval fortress city to protect this important bay and harbor from raids from other countries and native Amerindians. The port became an important stop on the route of the Spanish conquest of the new world. Beautifully preserved, this Spanish Colonial city is still inhabited and is a lovely, peaceful and safe place to visit. Explore the Forts, historical churches, museums and parks. Old San Juan has also become an exciting fine dining destination with many prize winning chefs offering a wide variety of exciting innovative cuisine... and local traditional foods. |
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Old San Juan's forts guard the largest protected harbor in the Caribbean. In 1511 the Indians, having realized the cruelty of the Spanish and suffered enslavement at their hands, revolted and attacked. The Spanish 'Conquistadors' had fought the Moors in Spain and were experienced soldiers on horseback, the Indians did not stand a chance. Ponce de Leon put the rebellion down. The Indians periodically attacked the Spanish settlements. After 15 years in Caparra, the Spanish moved across the bay to the little island later called San Juan Island. Great relief was felt, to have such an improved location at the entrance to the harbor and along the breezy North coast. Over many years the Western end of San Juan Island slowly became a walled medieval fortress city, now called Old San Juan. It became the capital of Puerto Rico. Most of the houses built in the 1700's and 1800's have been restored and Old San Juan is a marvelous example of Spanish Colonial architectural history. |
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Many generations of his descendants lived continuously in Casa Blanca although he never did. It is now open to the public and an important historic site and museum. The first Cathedral suffered the same fate in the hurricane of 1539 and was rebuilt. At the beginning of San Juan ( named after St. John the Baptist) there were 80 houses, some of which were stone and mud, but most were of straw, thatched leaves and wood. It became called "Ciudad de San Juan" in official documents, and guarded the rich port ( Puerto Rico). Columbus had named the entire island San Juan but that name was dropped as it began to be referred to as Puerto Rico. |
| TRANSFERRED TO THE US AS A TERRITORY IN 1898 |
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PR, USA. GRANTED US CITIZENSHIP IN 1917 -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
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