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San Cristobal Fort, San Juan
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San Cristobal Fort, San Juan

Watch tower over the Atlantic - San Juan
Watch tower over the Atlantic
by Ericasmurf99
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San Cristobal Fort: The "Other" Fort with Eerie Tunnels and Dungeons!
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  • jumpingnorman
  • Updated By jumpingnorman on June 23, 2009
  • San Juan Page by jumpingnorman
  • Fort of San Cristobal, San Juan, Puerto Rico - San Juan
    Fort of San Cristobal,
    San Juan, Puerto Rico
    by jumpingnorman,
    1 more photos
    There is another fort included in the ticket we bought from El Morro (adult $3 for El Morro plus $2 for Cristobal = total of $5)--- the other famous fort is called the San Cristobal and is a one-mile walk from El Morro --- but due to our hyperactivity combined with the humidity, we decided to just ride the free trolley.

    San Cristobal is located at the intersection of Munoz Rivera and Norzagaray Streets, across from the Plaza Colon…But unfortunately, we missed it because the trolley driver does not remind people that “This is the fort stop” – no voice…and so we ended up coming back to the fort later after lunch in the old city.

    This fort of San Cristobal has a different feel from El Morro – very much different because there is a curvy paved incline that you go up to – much like a castle. And it is part of the World Heritage UNESCO Site List (1983, as San Juan National Historic Site)

    And then there is a nice open square in the middle of the fort with pictures of how guards used to parade or stand in platoons there. There is also a bigger gift shop here and then DUNGEONS! A real tunnel/cave which I had fun scaring the twins with, hehehe…But my kids are not easy to scare and they just though I was funny, see my video…

    This was built on San Cristobal Hill and is the largest Spanish fortification in the New World, built starting in 1539.

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  • Address: Munoz Rivera and Norzagaray Streets
  • Directions: at the intersection of Munoz Rivera and Norzagaray Streets, across from the Plaza Colon
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    San Cristobal Fort: CASTILLO DE SAN CRISTOBAL
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  • LoriPori
  • By LoriPori on April 10, 2006
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  • View from Cruise Ship - San Juan
    View from Cruise Ship
    by LoriPori, 4 more photos
    San Cristobal Fort or CASTILLO DE SAN CRISTOBAL
    Building began in 1634 and completed in 1771
    Castillo de San Cristobal was considered the Gibraltar of the West Indies and is one of the largest defences ever built in the Americas. Covering 27 acres of land, it rises 150 feet. Its intricate modular design and its massive size was sure to intimidate enemies. A strategic masterpiece, it features five independent units, each connected by moat and tunnel. Each unit was fully self-sufficient should the others be taken by the enemy.

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    San Cristobal Fort: SAN CRISTOBAL-THE OTHER FORT
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  • moiraistyx
  • By moiraistyx on August 10, 2007
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  • Drawings in the dungeon - San Juan
    Drawings in the dungeon
    by moiraistyx, 4 more photos
    San Cristobal is another fort located in Old San Juan. San Cristobal is a bit younger than El Morro, but offers just as must historical significance to Puerto Rico. San Cristobal is located on the northeastern side of Old San Juan opposite El Morro. Visitors here will be delighted with the views San Cristobal offers of the city, ocean and El Morrow. My favorite part of this tour was the dungeon where one can see drawings on the wall done by captives. There is an entrance fee of $3.00, but if you plan on visiting both forts splurge the $5.00 combination ticket. There is a cute gift shop here with the usual touristy crap offered through out the city.

  • Address: Norzagaray Street
  • Phone: 787-729-6777
  • Directions: Norzagaray Street
  • Website: www.nps.gov/saju
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    San Cristobal Fort: Fort San Cristóbal
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  • steph4867
  • Updated By steph4867 on March 12, 2003
  • San Juan Page by steph4867
  • San Cristobal - San Juan
    San Cristobal
    by steph4867
    This huge fortress, begun in 1634 and reengineered in the 1770s, is one of the largest ever built in the Americas by Spain. Its walls rise more than 150 feet above the sea--a marvel of military engineering. San Cristóbal protected San Juan against attackers coming by land as a partner to El Morro, to which it is linked by a half-mile (1km) of monumental walls and bastions filled with cannon-firing positions. A complex system of tunnels and dry moats connects the center of San Cristóbal to its "outworks," defensive elements arranged layer after layer over a 27-acre site. You'll get the idea if you look at the scale model on display. Like El Morro, the fort is administered and maintained by the National Park Service. Be sure to see the Garita del Diablo (the Devil's Sentry Box), one of the oldest parts of San Cristóbal's defenses, and famous in Puerto Rican legend. The devil himself, it is said, would snatch away sentinels at this lonely post at the edge of the sea. In 1898 the first shots of the Spanish-American War in Puerto Rico were fired by cannons on top of San Cristóbal during an artillery duel with a U.S. Navy fleet. Sometimes park rangers lead hour-long tours for free, and you can also visit on your own.

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    San Cristobal Fort: San Cristóbal Fort ('Castillo de San Cristobal)
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  • Gypsystravels
  • Updated By Gypsystravels on June 16, 2006
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  • San Cristobal Fort - San Juan
    by Gypsystravels
    Along with El Morro, San Cristóbal Fort ('Castillo de San Cristóbal') was the city's defense.

    The largest defenses ever built in the Americas, it rose 150 feet, covering 27 acres of land. The size and height along with its design was no match for the enemies of the island.

    Considered a strategic masterpiece, it features five independent units, each connected by moat and tunnel and fully self-sufficient should any of the others fall.

    It's a World Heritage and National Historic Site.

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  • Directions: Historic Old San Juan
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    San Cristobal Fort: Spain's Largest New World Fortification
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  • bsfreeloader
  • By bsfreeloader on January 10, 2008
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  • San Cristobal Fort - San Juan
    by bsfreeloader, 4 more photos
    Not nearly as popular with tourists as Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Castillo San Cristobal is worth a visit in its own right. Built on San Cristobal Hill, the fort is the largest Spanish fortification in the New World. San Cristobal has the same basic structure as El Morro, including cannon openings and historical displays but it also has some unique tunnel walks, scores of iguanas, and more panoramic city views. Opening hours vary depending on the season with entrance to the fort costing $3 per adult (for $5 you can purchase a ticket allowing entry into San Cristobal and del Morro).

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    San Cristobal Fort: Between Showers
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  • grandmaR
  • Updated By grandmaR on April 9, 2009
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  • Embracures - San Juan
    Embracures
    by grandmaR, 4 more photos
    I wanted to see both El Moro (because it is a lighthouse) and Fort San Cristóbal which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a U.S. National Park Service site. But since the fort is open only until 1700 in the winter, I was pretty sure we couldn't do both forts and the rain forest if the ship didn't dock until noon. Thanks to Hurricane Wilma, we came in early and were able to get to the El Yunque and back before the fort closed.

    Fort Cristobal was built (began in 1634 and completed in 1771) to protect the city from the land side. Built on San Cristobal Hill (hence the name), the fort is the considered one of the largest Spanish fortifications in the New World. We went up in an elevator and the walked up a long tunnel. We saw the guns, and the cisterns in the central courtyard and Marian showed us the scale model of the fort, and the reconstructed area where the soldiers lived.

    We didn't go down into the dungeons, and I didn't climb up on top of the fort walls and neither did Bob. We did see the chapel to Santa Barbara where the soldiers prayed before they went into battle. It started to rain really hard. Up to now, we had dodged the rain - it rained early before we got off the ship, and it didn't rain until after we left the rain forest, but there was a brief hard shower now.

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  • Address: Norzagaray Street, San Juan, PR 00901
  • Phone: (787) 729-6777
  • Website: http://www.nps.gov/saju/sancristobal.html
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    San Cristobal Fort: Not quite as big as El Morro, but impressive
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  • mikeayers
  • By mikeayers on April 23, 2005
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  • San Cristobal Fort - San Juan
    by mikeayers
    You can easily see El Morro and San Cristobal in the same afternoon. It's right along the northern part of Old San Juan.

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    San Cristobal Fort: Castillo de San Cristóbal
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  • pecaspeca
  • Updated By pecaspeca on July 3, 2005
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  • San Cristóbal - San Juan
    San Cristóbal
    by pecaspeca
    San Cristóbal Fort was built to protect San Juan from attack by sea. Along with El Morro, San Cristóbal Fort has been designated a National Historic Site and is part of a World Heritage Site.It is administered by the U.S. National Park Service. Open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

    El Fuerte San Cristóbal fue construído para proteger a San Juan de ataques por mar. Al igual que El Morro, el Fuerte San Cristóbal ha sido designado como Legado Histórico Nacional y es parte del “World Heritage Site”.

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  • Address: Old San Juan
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    San Cristobal Fort: San Cristobal Fort
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  • Jim_Eliason
  • Updated By Jim_Eliason on February 23, 2005
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  • San Cristobal fort - San Juan
    San Cristobal fort
    by Jim_Eliason, 12 more photos
    This fort was built after El Morro and San Juan was succesfully captured via a land invasion from Condado. This fort is huge!

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  • Address: Calle Norzagaray
  • Phone: 787/729-6960
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