La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico


World Heritage Identification Number: 266

World Heritage since: 1983

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇺🇸 United States of America

Continent: Americas

UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America

Map

A Historical and Architectural Marvel: La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico

The La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico stands as a testament to the rich history and architectural prowess of the Spanish Empire in the New World. Established in 1983, this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers a unique blend of historical significance and architectural beauty that has captivated visitors for centuries.

More to come…

UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Between the 16th and 20th centuries, a series of defensive structures was built at this strategic point in the Caribbean Sea to protect the city and the Bay of San Juan. They represent a fine display of European military architecture adapted to harbour sites on the American continent.

Encyclopedia Record: La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico

La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States in the Caribbean. The world heritage site consists of several historic defensive structures built by the Spanish Empire between the 16th and 20th centuries to defend the strategically located colonial city of San Juan and its bay from foreign attacks. These fortifications are among the oldest European-built defensive systems and largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. In addition to its historic importance the site is notable for its architectural significance as one of the most prominent military adaptations of Renaissance and Baroque architecture in the Americas.

Read more on Wikipedia

Additional Site Details

Area: 33.39 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions

Coordinates: 18.46666667 , -66.125

Image

Image of La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico

© User:Mtmelendez, CC BY-SA 3.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)

About World Heritage Explorer

World Heritage Explorer is an independent educational project designed to uncover and share the richness of our world’s cultural and natural heritage. Dive into detailed site profiles, immersive imagery, interactive maps, and tools that help you explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the globe. Drawing extensively on open data sources, the project delivers authoritative, well-structured information for learners, educators, travelers, and younger explorers alike.

Learn more

Nearby World Heritage Sites

Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park
369 km — Saint Kitts and Nevis
Colonial City of Santo Domingo
397 km — Dominican Republic
Antigua Naval Dockyard and Related Archaeological Sites
490 km — Antigua and Barbuda
Morne Trois Pitons National Park
620 km — Dominica
National History Park – Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers
654 km — Haiti

Country Information: United States of America

Flag of United States of America

Official Name: United States of America

Capital: Washington, D.C.

Continent: Americas

Population (2024): 340,110,988

Population (2023): 336,806,231

Population (2022): 334,017,321

Land Area: 9,147,420 sq km

Currency: United States dollar (USD)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

Open Data for an Open World