La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico
La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico
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.
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
La Fortaleza et le site historique national de San Juan à Porto Rico
Point stratégique de la mer des Caraïbes, la baie de San Juan s'est couverte du XVIe au XXe siècle d'ouvrages défensifs qui présentent un répertoire varié de l'architecture militaire européenne adaptée aux sites portuaires du continent américain.
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
فورتاليزا وموقع سان خوان التاريخي الوطني في بورتوريكو
يشكل خليج سان خوان نقطة استراتيجيّة من البحر الكاريبي، وقد غطته بين القرنين الخامس والتاسع عشر أعمال دفاعيّة تمثّل مخزوناً متنوّعاً من الهندسة العسكريّة الأوروبيّة المكيفّة بحسب حاجات مرافئ القارة الأمريكيّة.
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
波多黎各的古堡与圣胡安历史遗址
公元16世纪至20世纪期间，在加勒比海的战略要地上建起了一系列防御工事用于保护圣胡安城和圣胡安海湾。这些建筑很好地展示了欧洲军事建筑与美洲大陆港口实际情况相结合后产生的和谐效果。
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Крепость и историческая часть города Сан-Хуан на острове Пуэрто-Рико
В период XVI-XX вв. система оборонительных сооружений была построена в этом стратегическом месте Карибского моря, чтобы защитить город и бухту Сан-Хуан. Они представляют собой великолепные образцы приспособления европейской военной архитектуры к особенностям гаваней Америки.
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Fortaleza y sitio histórico nacional de San Juan de Puerto Rico
Situada en un punto estratégico del Caribe, la bahía de San Juan se protegió con toda una serie de obras defensivas construidas entre los siglos XVI y XX. Estas fortificaciones son un buen ejemplo de la arquitectura militar europea, adaptada a las zonas portuarias del continente americano.
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
プエルト・リコのラ・フォルタレサとサン・ファン国定史跡
プエルトリコの首都サンファンは、16世紀にスペイン人が征服して築いた都市。サンファンとは、スペイン語で「聖ヨハネ」の意味です。海からの敵を防いだエル・モレロ要塞や、陸からの攻撃に備えたサンクリストバル要塞、旧総督公邸ラ・フォルタレサなどが、当時のまま残っている。source: NFUAJ
Nationaal-historisch gebied van La Fortaleza en San Juan in Puerto Rico
Tussen de 16e en 20e eeuw werd een reeks verdedigingsstructuren van vestingen en forten gebouwd bij La Fortaleza en San Juan op een strategisch punt in de Caribische zee om de stad en baai van San Juan te beschermen. Het verdedigingssysteem van La Fortaleza representeert Europese militaire architectuur aangepast aan het Amerikaanse continent. Het is achtereenvolgens een fort, wapenhuis en een gevangenis geweest. Door de eeuwen heen heeft San Juan het Spaanse rijk beschermd tegen Caribische Indianen, piraten en oorlogsschepen van andere landen. Het uitgestrekte, samenhangende verdedigingssysteem stond vroeger bekend om z'n doeltreffendheid. Vandaag de dag telt vooral de historische waarde ervan.
Source: unesco.nl
Outstanding Universal Value
Brief synthesis
La Fortaleza, along with the later fortifications of Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Castillo San Cristóbal and San Juan de la Cruz (El Cañuelo), and a large portion of the original San Juan City Wall, were built between the 16th and 20th centuries to protect the city and the Bay of San Juan. They are characteristic examples of the historic methods of construction used in military architecture over this period, which adapted European designs and techniques to the special conditions of the Caribbean port cities. La Fortaleza has served as a fortress, an arsenal, a prison, and residence of the Governor-General, and today as the seat and residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico.
These fortifications, which retain the general appearance of advanced 18th-century defense technology, clearly illustrate both a transfer of technology from Europe to America over a long period and its adaptation to the topography of a strategically significant yet difficult tropical site. Reflecting Italian Renaissance, Baroque, and French Enlightenment designs, the defenses express successive techniques and technologies in fortification construction. The varied examples of military architecture from the 16th to 20th centuries in the fortifications of San Juan are evidence of the imperial struggles that defined the development of the Americas. As one of the first as well as one of the last of the numerous seats of power in Spain’s American empire, these structures are now potent symbols of the cultural ties that link the Hispanic world.
Criterion (vi): La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site outstandingly illustrate the adaptation to the Caribbean context of European developments in military architecture from the 16th to 20th centuries. They represent the continuity of more than four centuries of architectural, engineering, military, and political history.
Integrity
Located within the boundaries of La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico are all the elements necessary to understand and express the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, including La Fortaleza, Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Castillo San Cristóbal, San Juan de la Cruz (El Cañuelo) fort, and a large portion of the original San Juan City Wall, including San Juan Gate. The portion of the City Wall that belongs to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is not within the property. The property is nevertheless of sufficient size to adequately ensure a full representation of the features and processes that convey its significance. The property in general does not suffer from adverse effects of development or neglect, though urban encroachment near the north section of the City Wall and the deterioration of the San Juan del la Cruz fort’s facade and Castillo San Cristóbal’s outworks have been identified as concerns. There is no buffer zone for the property.
Authenticity
La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico is authentic in terms of its forms and designs, materials and substance, and location and setting. The fortifications remain as a clear testimony to their original defensive purpose, and indeed continued to serve as such through the mid-20th century. The original construction methods, including those used in periodic expansions and improvements during the forts’ active service, are still evident and can be used to guide continuing conservation. Repairs have been constantly necessary over the life of the structures due to their age and the vulnerable materials of which they are composed; regular monitoring now supports repair work.
The site is fundamentally in a good state of preservation, despite conservation challenges posed by susceptible materials such as sandstone, brick, and plaster in the presence of the erosive action of the sea and heavy traffic in the area. Some early repairs using concrete also caused damage, but current professional conservation policies, including regular monitoring, are addressing these issues.
Protection and management requirements
La Fortaleza, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960, is owned in fee by the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; San Juan National Historic Site, which was established in 1949, is held by fee title by the Government of the United States of America. La Fortaleza is protected under the regulations of the Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly, as well as by the Commission of the Historic Zone of San Juan, an independent commission of the Capital of Puerto Rico. The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture has established standards of conservation and restoration in the historic zone. In addition, there is a Consultant Committee for the Restoration, Conservation, and Improvement of La Fortaleza. San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico – comprised of San Felipe del Morro, San Cristóbal, and El Cañuelo forts and most of what remains of the of the old San Juan City fortress wall along with the San Juan Gate – is protected under the National Park system, which affords it the highest possible level of protection by the federal government and assures a high standard of interpretation and public access. The inclusion in 2013 of both La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site within the Old San Juan Historic District National Historic Landmark affords another level of protection as well.
Formal agreements are in place for cooperative management of the property between the Government of Puerto Rico and the National Park Service. Guiding documents include a General Management Plan (1985), a Long-Range Interpretive Plan (2006), an Alternative Transportation Plan, and various interpretive plans for waysides and exhibits for San Juan National Historic Site; the Commonwealth government has committed to compiling current practice into a formal management plan for La Fortaleza. A new visitor center established in 2002 at Castillo San Cristóbal allows for improved public access and there are plans to further enhance information for visitors and reduce traffic.
Sustaining the Outstanding Universal Value of the property over time will require completing, approving, and implementing a general management plan for La Fortaleza; continuing to apply appropriate conservation measures aimed at protecting vulnerable materials, including at the San Juan del la Cruz fort and Castillo San Cristóbal outworks; and managing urban encroachment near the City Wall.
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