La Fortaleza - Credit: Wikimedia Commons
La Fortaleza - Credit: Wikimedia Commons
La Fortaleza (English: The Fortress), also known as Palacio de Santa Catalina (Saint Catherine's Palace), has been the official residence of the governor of Puerto Rico since the 16th century, making it the oldest executive mansion in continuous use in the New World. Built between 1533 and 1540 on the orders of King Charles I of Spain, the structure was the first fortification constructed by the Spanish on San Juan Islet to defend Old San Juan and its harbor on San Juan Bay from invasions by foreign powers and harassment by privateers and pirates during the Age of Discovery and Exploration. It was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983 as part of La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site. Read more on Wikipedia
Source: en.wikipedia.org