Know More About San Juan History Before Your Visit Come and discover the Western Hemisphere's second-oldest city. Old San Juan is an island connected to a central island to the east via bridges. The oldest component is situated on the west side and is surrounded by walls on three sides. The old town is organized into 17 square blocks. The northern side of the city slopes steep and contains the city's residential region. The southern quarter, or port area (ports 1-4), is the commercial and tourism district, with stores, piers, and the majority of the restaurants. Fort San Cristobal protects the city's eastern flank. Paseo de la Princesa, La Fortaleza (Governor's Mansion), and Fort El Morro are located on the city's western outskirts. If you are planning a visit here then you can stay in plaza suites Fortaleza to have a great experience. It is the town's oldest neighborhood, with 300-450-year-old homes and structures. San Juan Antiguo, or Old San Juan, is the oldest city in the United States and its territory. In 1521, the Spanish established San Juan. It took over as the island's capital from "Caparra," the island's initial town. Christopher Columbus called the island San Juan Bautista when he discovered it in 1493. (St. John the Baptist). The city was afterward renamed Puerto Rico (meaning rich port). A confused cartographer renamed the city of San Juan and the island of Puerto Rico in the 1520s. San Juan rapidly became a significant Spanish colony, with a hospital, college, and even a library by 1530! It wasn't long before other European countries took notice of San Juan, and the first pirate raids occurred in 1528 when the French devastated the towns around San Juan. To protect the city against pirate invasions by the Dutch, French, and English, the Spanish built two massive forts and walled it in. El Morro Fort's construction began around 1539. It is a massive fortress with 18-foot thick walls, tunnels, barracks, outposts, slopes, and tunnel mazes that safeguarded the city from foreign assault.
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