:San Juan was First Sellled by Juan Ponce de leon, that Searched After the Youth Who Later Discovered Florida SAN JUAN is not only the ¡Oldest city flying the American flag but nowhere on American soil is there such a wealth of ancient and his~oric buildings as are crowed within its walls. The town within the wans with its six streets runing east and west is basically much the same today as it was hundreds of years ago. Many of the fine homes of wealthy Spaniards are now government offices; many have fallen on evil days, their dignity obscured by modern shop windows and neon signs. But the beauty of structure, the sturdy walls, the heavy ceiling beams, the marble and Spanish tiled floors and the vistas into spacious patios no ignominious usage can destroy. There is no executive mansian in the States as old and in as beautiful a setting as La Fortaleza where Puerto Rico's first elected governor, the Honorable Luis Munoz Marin, has his residence. The buildings was begun in 1533 and since 1693 La Fortaleza has been the official residence of the governors of Puerto Rico. Men still worship at the church of San Jose, men whose ancestors took refuge in times of danger behind its strong walls over four hundred years ago. San Juan was first settled by Juan Ponce de Leon, that searcher after the Fountain of Youth who later discovered Florida. He set sail in 1508 from Columbu's headquarters in Santo Domingo and started his first settlement in the rich meadows of Caparra across San Juan Bay. Eleven years later, in 1519, the colony noved to the little island, two and a half miles long by half a mile wide, the present site of San Juan. By 1529 the colony was thriving. These was the Domini-
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can Monastery (to which the bal (St. Christopher) was bechurch now called San Jose was gun. There is nothing equal to added about this time) and the these two great fortresses in the Cathedral and one hundred and New World, except the fort at twenty-nine dwellings of adobe Cartagena. The massive conand tile. When the savage Ca- struction, galleries, and conrib Indians thl,eatened to at- necting underground passages tack, the citizens took refuge in are very impressive. the Monastery and the CatheIn the 18th centry, another dral. A home for Ponce de fort, San Geronimo (beside the Leon was already under con- Caribe-Hilton Hotel) was added struction (the Casa Blanca) to protect the San Antonio and plans were being drawn for Channel, the other entrance inthe first fort. This fort, now to San Juan Bay. It was outLa Fortaleza, was partially fi- side the main walls or "Casco" nished in 1540. The story goes of San Juan. "Casco" means that an important visitor from shell and the expression is still Spain said of it, "Only a blind used to indicate the old walled man could have chosen this si- city. San Juan's was a hard te". It did not command the shell to crack, as England Franentrance to the harbor but per- and Holland soon discovered. haps the position of La Fortale- Even the pirates who infested za was not as unstrategic as the these waters respected it. Somevisitor thought, for in those times ships loaded with trea-. early days the chief marauders sure for Spain put into safe harwere the Indians who came in bor here. In fact, one of La canoes along the inland waters- Fortaleza's ancient towers was way to San Juan Bay. used as a repository for Spanish However, times were chang- gold. ing and in 1539 San Fe:ipe del The great forts guarded San Morro (El Morro means head- Juan well. San Cristobal was land or bluff) , the first of the so formidable it was never even great fortresses, was begun. It attacked, not hard to underwas none too soon for, in 1593, stand if you climb up and look El Morro withstood the attack dawn on its great defense wall, of Sir Francis Drake with a for- known as El Abanico (the fan) . ce of 27 ships and 2500 men It's a fan of solid walls some whowere rash enough to sail twenty feet thick that you will within range of its guns. Three never see the like of. Since coyears later, in 1598, El Morro ming under the American flag was not so fortunate. The Earl in 1898 these same forts have of Sumberland attacked from stood guard with modern armthe landward side and for:ed ament through two wars. an entry through the walls. He Old San Juan rewards the occupied the fort for two sightseer who goes on foot. months u n t i 1 an e~idemk Streets planned for the traffic routed him by killing half of of the 16th and 17th century his men. An attack by the are ill adapted to motor cars. Dutch in 1625, in which they Stroll along the Calle del Cristo failed to take the fort but from the church of San Jose sacked and burned the town of san Juan, finally convinced downhill past the Cathedral of Spain of the weakness of the San Juan toward the tiny chaland defense. In 1631 the se(Continues on Page 43) cond great fortress, San Cristo-
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