Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¼´Ê±¿ª½±

El Moro fort walls on Puerta de San Juan.

Getty Images/Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¼´Ê±¿ª½± Images

Puerta de San Juan

San Juan


One of the three remaining gates into the old city, the lofty red portal known as the Puerta de San Juan is a popular photo stop. Spanish ships once anchored in the cove just off these ramparts to unload colonists and supplies, and this tunnel through the wall dates from the 1630s.

Once there were a total of five gates, and the massive wooden doors were closed each night to thwart intruders. Turn right after passing through the gate and you can follow the Paseo del Morro northwest, paralleling the old city walls for approximately three-quarters of a mile. Pause on one of the benches along the western side that have fine harbor and sunset views.


Contact

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¼´Ê±¿ª½±'s must-see attractions

Nearby San Juan attractions

1. Casa Museo Felisa Rincón de Gautier

0.03 MILES

This museum, an attractive neoclassical townhouse, was the longtime home of San Juan’s beloved mayor, Doña Felisa. She presided over the growth of the…

2. Plazuela de la Rogativa

0.03 MILES

This diminutive gem of a square with lovely views over the bay is home to an interesting, stylized bronze sculpture of a former bishop of San Juan and…

3. La Fortaleza

0.07 MILES

Guarded iron gates mark the imposing La Fortaleza. Dating from 1533, it's the oldest executive mansion in continuous use in the western hemisphere. The…

4. Plazuela Las Monjas

0.09 MILES

This pretty little park faces the Catedral de San Juan Bautista. Its ironwork benches and shade trees make it a good place for people watching, especially…

5. Casa Blanca

0.09 MILES

First constructed in 1521 as a residence for Puerto Rico’s pioneering governor, Juan Ponce de León (who died before he could move in), Casa Blanca is the…

6. Palacio Rojo

0.1 MILES

A two-story Baroque building dating from 1792, Palacio Rojo once served as the living quarters for Spanish commanding officers. Today it houses…

7. Catedral de San Juan Bautista

0.1 MILES

While San Juan's cathedral is smaller and less flamboyant than many Spanish churches, it retains a simple elegance. The first church on this site was…

8. Capilla del Cristo

0.11 MILES

Since 1780, tens of thousands of penitents have come to pray for miracles at the Capilla del Cristo, the tiny sanctuary at the end of a pedestrian street…