La Fortaleza

Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico


State Party =
Type = Cultural
Criteria = vi
ID = 266
Region = Europe and North America
Year = 1983
Session = 7th
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/266Infobox_nrhp | name =La Fortaleza
nrhp_type = nhl
built =1533
architect= Unknown
architecture= Classical Revival, Other
designated = October 09, 1960cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=721&ResourceType=Building
title=La Fortaleza |accessdate=2007-06-28|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
added = October 15, 1966
governing_body = State
refnum=66000951cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

La Fortaleza, (The Fortress) is the current official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico. It was built between 1533 and 1540 to defend the harbor of San Juan. The structure is also known as "Palacio de Santa Catalina" (Santa Catalina Palace). It is the oldest executive mansion in the New World. It was listed by UNESCO in 1983 as a World Heritage Site.

During the 1640 reconstruction, the chapel of Santa Catalina, which originally existed outside of the walls, was demolished and was integrated to the walls of the structure. This would give rise to the name of Santa Catalina's Palace.

The structure

La Fortaleza was the first defensive fortification built for the city of San Juan, and the first of a series of military structures built to protect the city which included the Fort San Felipe del Morro and the Fort San Cristóbal. The construction was authorized by Charles V as a defense against attacks from the European powers of the day and Carib Indians.

Initially, the structure consisted of four walls enclosing an interior patio with a circular tower known as the "Homage Tower". From the top of the tower, the governor, following military tradition, would take oaths of fidelity at critical moments to the Queen and the King of Spain. Later, a second tower named the "Austral Tower" was constructed.

At present, the complex consists of a few attached buildings with formal living quarters in the second floor, and private quarters in the third. It overlooks the high city walls that front the bay, and within the north perimeter of the house are sheltered gardens and a swimming pool.

History

are among the names of several heads of state who have stayed in La Fortaleza.

La Fortaleza has been taken twice by invaders:
* 1598, George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland, attacked San Juan.
* 1625, General Boudewijn Hendrick (Balduino Enrico) of the Netherlands invaded the city and established himself at La Fortaleza. During the Dutch retreat, this fortress and the city was set ablaze.

Tradition holds that in 1898 just before the United States invaded Puerto Rico after the Spanish-American War, the last Spanish governor of the island, Ricardo De Ortega, struck a longcase clock with his sword in La Fortaleza; stopping the clock and marking the time at which Spain lost control over Puerto Rico.

On October 30, 1950 four Puerto Rican nationalists staged an attack at the entrance of La Fortaleza. Three of them were shot and killed by policemen.

On October 9, 1960, La Fortaleza was designated a National Historic Landmark.

In 1983, La Fortaleza along with the San Juan National Historic Site was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. [http://whc.unesco.org/archive/repcom83.htm#266]

On May 26, 2004 a man armed with a knife entered the mansion's mailroom located just outside the palace gates and took a receptionist hostage. The 2 1/2 hour stand-off ended after Governor Sila María Calderón entered the building and heard the hostage taker read a letter.

References

* Government of Puerto Rico. [http://www.fortaleza.gobierno.pr/index_dinamico.asp Executive Mansion: Santa Catalina's Palace] . San Juan, Puerto Rico.
* World Heritage Committee. [http://whc.unesco.org/archive/repcom83.htm Report of 7th Session, Florence 1983] . Paris: "UNESCO's Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage". January 1984.

External links

* [http://www.fortaleza.gobierno.pr/index_dinamico.asp Government of Puerto Rico - Executive Mansion: Santa Catalina's Palace]
* [http://whc.unesco.org/sites/266.htm UNESCO - World Heritage Center: La Fortaleza Historic Site Information]