Walls of Old San Juan

Walls of Old San Juan
Murallas del Viejo San Juan
Western wall from Paseo de la Princesa towards Castillo San Felipe del Morro
Map showing the location of Walls of Old San Juan
Map showing the location of Walls of Old San Juan
Location in Puerto Rico.
LocationOld San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Coordinates18°28′3″N 66°6′37″W / 18.46750°N 66.11028°W / 18.46750; -66.11028
Governing bodyNational Park Service
CriteriaCultural: (vi)
Designated1983 (7th session)
Part ofLa Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico
Reference no.266bis-001
Extensions2016
DesignatedOctober 15, 1966
Reference no.66000930[1]

The Walls of Old San Juan (Spanish: Murallas del Viejo San Juan) is a defensive city wall that surrounds the western end of the San Juan Islet, site of the historic district of San Juan, Puerto Rico. This defensive wall system was built between the 16th and 18th centuries to protect the city and the Bay of San Juan, a highly strategic point in the Caribbean. These walls, along with the defensive fortresses in Old San Juan (La Fortaleza, El Morro and San Cristóbal), form part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site-designated San Juan National Historic Site as they are characteristic examples of the historic methods of construction used in military architecture which adapted European designs and techniques to the special conditions of the Caribbean port cities.[2]

San Juan remains the only walled city under the United States jurisdiction, with walled cities like Boston, Charleston and New Orleans no longer having walls after the 18th century, although St. Augustine, Florida still retains several wall remnants.[3][4][5] Examples of other North American walled cities that retain their ramparts are Quebec City in Canada and Campeche in Mexico.[6][7] The bartizans (garitas) found along the walls are considered emblematic of the city of San Juan and a symbol of historic heritage preservation in Puerto Rico.[8][9]

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  3. ^ "Demolished Boston". Buildings of New England. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  4. ^ "The Walled City of Charles Town - Charleston - SC - US". Historical Marker Project. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  5. ^ "Old City Gates and Walls - St. Augustine, Florida". www.exploresouthernhistory.com. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  6. ^ Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada (2022-04-29). "Fortifications of Québec National Historic Site". www.pc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  7. ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Historic Fortified Town of Campeche". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  8. ^ "TURISMO: Garitas de San Juan, emblema de Puerto Rico". Excelsior California (in Mexican Spanish). 2013-05-31. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  9. ^ Mari Mut, Dr. José A. (2009–2013). Las garitas de San Juan (in Spanish). La Colección Puertorriqueña.