San Juan de Ulúa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

San Juan de Ulúa is a large fortress on an island overlooking the seaport of Veracruz, Mexico. It was built in the Spanish colonial era, starting in 1565. It was expanded several times later. The fortress was the last point in New Spain held by Spain, after the Mexican War of Independence. It surrendered to General Miguel Barragán in November 1825.

For much of the nineteenth century it served as a prison, especially for political prisoners. Many prominent Mexican politicians spent time here while they were not in power. Currently it is a museum.

San Juan de Ulúa is also where parts of Romancing the Stone were filmed.