La Fortaleza

La Fortaleza was begun in the 1530s as the first fortification of San Juan bay, was quickly judged badly sited for defence, and was converted instead into the governor's residence, which it has remained ever since, making it the oldest executive mansion still in use anywhere in the Americas. Its blue-and-white facade rises straight out of the old city wall above the harbour, and behind it are courtyards, a chapel, gardens and rooms of Spanish colonial and later furnishing. It forms part of the same World Heritage listing as El Morro and San Cristóbal. Tours are free but run at fixed times with limited numbers and require identification, and they are cancelled without notice for official business, so it pays to go early and check.

What you actually see

• The blue-and-white facade - the palace rising from the old city wall.
• The courtyards and chapel - the interior spaces on the guided route.
• The gardens - the terraced grounds above the bay.
• The city wall - the ramparts the palace is built into.

When to go

December to April is the pleasant season. Tours run at set times on weekdays only, in Spanish and English, and stop entirely when the residence is in official use, so check the day's schedule at the gate or by phone before planning around it.

Honest expectations

It is a working official residence, so access is limited, tours are short, cancellations are common and photography is restricted in parts. You must bring identification. Only a portion of the building is shown. If the schedule does not work, the exterior from Calle Fortaleza with its famous canopy of umbrellas or flags overhead is still worth the walk.

Nearby

El Morro is at the end of the peninsula; the cathedral and Paseo de la Princesa are minutes away.