Palacio de Santa Catalina

"La Fortaleza" acted as the primary defenses of the settlement which was subjected to numerous attacks.La Fortaleza continues to serve also as the executive mansion for the Governor of Puerto Rico.

La Fortaleza (The Fortress) in the Old San Juan is the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico. Built between 1533 and 1540 to defend the harbor of San Juan, was the first defensive fortification built for the city of San Juan, and the first of a series of military structures. The structure is also known as Palacio de Santa Catalina. La Fortaleza has acted as the residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico, making it the oldest executive mansion in continuous use in the Americas.

Although established to defend against Caribe Indian raids, invaders only took the fortress twice in its history: first, by the English in 1598, and then by the Dutch in 1625. read more...