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Everyone likes to make an entrance.
In 1634, construction began on strong city walls which were to protect the city of San Juan from enemy attacks. Completion of the twenty foot thick masonry walls took 148 years and six gates (puertas) were constructed to allow access through the walls into the city. Each of the gates was protected by a sentry box (garita) to shelter the guards and the entryways were secured at night with no access until morning.
The San Juan Gate (Puerta de San Juan) was the formal entrance to the city and was the point of entry where Spanish dignitaries arrived. After access was granted, these dignitaries, made their way up the cobblestone streets, to Catedral San Juan Bautista (also known as San Juan Cathedral), to thank God for their safe voyage.
The other five gates spaced throughout the three-mile wall were used to transport materials and supplies and also to allow for everyday traffic. Today, only Puerta de San Juan, and inestimable landmark, is accessible to tourists and is a must-see in the historic city. Located southwest of Castillo San Felipe del Morro, the gate is continually open and after passing through, panoramic views of San Juan Bay, the busiest ocean port in the Caribbean, Isla de Cabras (Goat Island) and a small Spanish fort, El Canuelo, across the channel can be appreciated. The path, through the gate, leads to Paseo del Morro, the National Recreation Trail which skirts the coast, following the city walls (La Muralla) from the gate to the notable citadel.
As you approach the gate, you will notice an inscription, Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. The verse comes from The Sanctus, “Holy”, a Latin hymn from Catholic liturgy and means, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”.
As I made my way through the gate, I made a stop to inspect the sentry box on the coastal side of the wall. Following Paseo del Morro’s flawlessly paved path, I marveled at the waves sometimes pounding the shore on one side and the ancient wall on the other, repeatedly marked with garitas. At the end of my one and a half mile trek, I suddenly realized that the path ended. Many people will tell you that you should retrace your steps back to the San Juan Gate, however, along with a German family, I found an entrance to the grounds of El Morro fort, a remarkable structure that was next on my list.
And the story of the fortified city continues…
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San Juan Gate
- https://sanjuanpuertorico.com/la-puerta-de-san-juan-san-juan-gate/
- Address: Cll Caleta De San Juan, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
- Hours: Open 24 hours
- Admission: Free
- Getting There: From the Cathedral, follow Caleta de San Juan westward.
A couple of hours into our trek, we made a stop at the African Galleria. Once we had utilized their facilities, we took a bit of time to walk around and inspect the amazing artwork. Yes, there were the normal masks, souvenirs and fabrics that you would find in any market, but there was also the most awe-inspiring carvings that I have ever seen. After spotting the most intricate piece of shaped wood, depicting migrating wildebeests, my curiosity got the best of me and I had to inquire about some of the prices.
