Description of the attraction
Probably the most notable tourist attraction in Veracruz is the fortress of San Juan de Ulua, built at the time of the beginning of the development of America to protect the newly founded settlement from pirates who often hunted in the coastal Mexican waters. Subsequently, the fort was rebuilt into a prison, where many famous politicians who were recognized as criminals were kept. Now in Fort San Juan de Ulua, a museum is open, where you can go for free. To see all the most important corners of the fort, you can hire a tour guide, whose services are paid by the tourist.
The fortress, standing on the ocean coast, can be reached both by car and by boat. The path along the water surface is considered optimal, as it saves time. By land, you will have to go around the port shipyards, which is not suitable for those who are not used to mindlessly wasting precious vacation hours.
San Juan, after whom the fort is named, is the Spanish conquistador Juan Grijalva. The prefix "de Ulua" denotes the name of the area on which the fortress stands. Ulua is a modified name for the local Kulua (or Akolhua) tribe. The Spaniards, who landed in the area of the future fortress, found two bodies of the Indians of this tribe, which they sacrificed to unknown gods. Without thinking twice, the conquistadors named the peninsula after the Coulois Indians.
Fort San Juan de Ulua was founded in 1535. Since then, the fortress has been modified several times. Until 1825, it was owned by the Spaniards. Then the fort several times ended up in the hands of foreigners: in the first half of the 19th century it was conquered by the French, and a little later by the Americans.
Now only tourists disturb the peace of the powerful walls.
