The Heart of San Cristobal

Castillo San Cristobal’s main plaza, or plaza de armas, was completed by 1797 and looked much as it does now. For more than a century, this plaza witnessed the daily events of military life in a Spanish fortress, where troops drilled, were inspected, and assembled for formal events on the main plaza floor. The vaulted rooms around the plaza, called casemates, housed officers’ quarters, barracks, storage areas, the kitchen, and the latrine, and if necessary cannon could be fired from them as well. During San Cristobal’s heyday, the plaza was a very busy place. Today San Cristobal’s main plaza houses exhibit areas, a bookstore, restrooms, and a troop quarters area restored to its historic appearance.

San Juan, Puerto Rico · United States