Just minutes from the san juan port lies the largest fortress which is seen entering the historical city. The masive citidel built with an inmense rampart spanning from eighteen to twenty five feet in width began contruction in 1634. The rich history of fort san cristobal will takes us on a journey to learn the history and events that catapulted past events of Puerto and how it rose to becoming the gateway to the indies.
To learn why fortresses were built in the first place and to better understand the causes that led to numerous military conficts with other nations like england, holland and france.
For hundreds of years Spanish soldiers defended San Juan city and its people. Weapons that stood above the walls to aim and dislodge heavy cannonballs from loopholes intended to destroy incoming enemy ships.
This Fort known as San Cristobal embodies more than just the size and massive thick walls. In 1765, Alejandro Oreilly and Thomas O'daly, both serving the spanish crown, did the unimaginable by engineering a fortress so massive the largest fortress never had been seen before.
As it stood with inmense thick walls seen ranging from 18-25 feet and once finalized totaling 27 acres in 1785. These massive sandstone block walls covered with limestone and sandstone detered any cannons from penetrating throught its walls.
Many Artisans, craftmen and carpenters had undertaken challenges far difficult what they had anticipated.
M african slaves were given the task of working in the nearby quarries. Many had not survived due to its force labor impose by the spanish authorites in a very difficult time.
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