Fortress
El Cañuelo
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico · 17th century
Fortín San Juan de la Cruz (English: Fort Saint John of the Cross), most commonly known as El Cañuelo, was built on Isla de Cabras in the Palo Seco barrio of the municipality of Toa Baja, at the western end of the entrance to San Juan Bay, in Puerto Rico. The square coastal fort has massive sandstone walls that date back to the 1630s. Although the U.S. Navy bombarded the fort in 1898, the fort survived. Today the fort is part of the San Juan National Historic Site, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Puerto Rico Register of Historic Sites and Zones. The fort is not open to visitors, but it can be viewed from its exterior.
Text adapted from “Fortín San Juan de la Cruz” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
El Cañuelo ranks #6,753 of 8,764 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #4 of the 4 mapped in Puerto Rico. Founded c. 1635, it is older than 30% of the atlas's dated landmarks — one of 672 atlas entries founded in the 17th century. 3 more atlas landmarks stand within 25 km. See how Puerto Rico compares in the castle statistics.
View on the interactive castle map →Frequently asked questions
Where is El Cañuelo?
El Cañuelo stands in Puerto Rico, at 18.46639°, -66.13639°.
When was El Cañuelo built?
The atlas dates its founding to c. 1635. Earlier structures may have stood on the site; this is the earliest documented founding year.
Is El Cañuelo a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes — it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, per its Wikidata entry.
How famous is El Cañuelo?
In this atlas's fame ranking: #6,753 of 8,764 worldwide, and #4 in Puerto Rico. Fame here combines how many Wikipedia language editions cover a landmark with how many people read them.
What is the nearest castle to El Cañuelo?
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, about 1 km away.
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