Puerto Rico is one of the largest islands in the Eastern Caribbean.
Puerto Rico's landscape encompasses mountains, underground caves,
coral reefs, white-sand beaches and an incredibly massive rain
forest that supplies fresh water to most of the island. At the same
time San Juan, the capital of the commonwealth, is a big city with a
bustling business district, glitzy resorts and casinos, as well as
one of the most stunning examples of colonial life in the Western
world.
San Juan is known as "La Ciudad Amurallada" (the walled city). San
Juan was founded in 1521. In 1508 Juan Ponce de León founded the
original settlement, Caparra, now known as Pueblo Viejo, behind the
almost land-locked harbor just to the west of the present
metropolitan area.
A year later, the settlement was abandoned and moved to the site of
what is now called Old San Juan. San Juan is one of the biggest and
best natural harbors in the Caribbean and is the second oldest
European-founded city in the Americas
San Juan is a major port and tourist resort of the West Indies and
is the oldest city under the U.S flag. The metropolitan area known
as San Juan has 3 distinct areas: Old San Juan, the Beach & Resort
area, and other outlying communities, the most important: Río
Piedras, Hato Rey, Puerta de Tierra, and Santurce.
Many believe San Juan is a small Spanish colonial town with but a
few bustling avenues. However this impression does not aptly
describe the breath and depth of this fine old-world city.
Modern-day San Juan encompasses a vast metropolis that covers seven
unique and distinct districts. This makes for an eclectic
combination of sights and sounds that is essential to the wonder and
joy of visiting San Juan.
Old San Juan/Puerta de Tierra
This is a 465-year-old neighborhood originally conceived as a
military stronghold. Its 7-square-block area has evolved into a
charming residential and commercial district. The streets here are
paved with cobbles of adoquine, a blue stone cast from furnace slag;
they were brought over a ballast on Spanish ships and time and
moisture have lent them their characteristic color. The city
includes more than 400 carefully restored 16th- and 17th-century
Spanish colonial buildings. The Old San Juan attracts many tourists,
who also enjoy the gambling casinos, fine beaches, and tropical
climate. More tourists visit San Juan each year than any other spot
in the Caribbean. A leisurely foot tour is advisable for those who
really want to experience this bit of the Old World, especially
given the narrow, steep streets and frequently heavy traffic. To
really do justice to these wonderful old sites, you'll need two
mornings or a full day.
Old San Juan has several plazas: Plaza de San José is a favorite
meeting place for young and old alike. At its center stands the
bronze statue of Ponce de León, made from a British cannons captured
in during Sir Ralph Abercromby's attack 1797. The plaza is skirted
by a number of historic buildings.
Abutting Plaza San José is the Plaza del Quinto Centenario
(Quincentennial Square), opened in October 12, 1992. This plaza is
the cornerstone of Puerto Rico's commemoration of the 500th
anniversary of Columbus' discovery of the New World, has a sculpture
that rises 40 feet. The monumental totemic sculpture in black
granite and ceramics symbolizes the earthen and clay roots of
American history and is the work of Jaime Suarez, one of Puerto
Rico's foremost artists.
Plaza de Armas (arms square) is Old San Juan's main square, on San
José Street. Features four statues representing the four seasons;
all are over 100 years old. It was carefully planned as the main
city square and has served as a social meeting place for
generations.
Plaza de Colón (Columbus square) was originally called St. James
Square was renamed in 1893 to honor Christopher Columbus on the
400th anniversary of his discovery of Puerto Rico; bronze tablets at
the pedestal of the Columbus statue record important episodes in the
explorer's life.
Plazuela de la Rogativa (plaza of the procession) was built in 1971,
features a modern sculpture depicting a procession of religious
women commemorates an event that took place on the site in 1797.
During the spring of that year, a fleet of British ships led by
under Sir Ralph Ambercrombie sailed into San Juan Bay, meaning to
launch an assault on the city and take control of the colony. When
the attack was foiled, they undertook a naval blockade of San Juan,
hoping to starve the residents into submission. As the towns people
began to despair of any help from soldiers garrisoned in the inland
towns, the governor ordered a rogativa, or divine entreaty, to ask
the saints for assistance. The women of the town formed a procession
through the streets, carrying torches and ringing bells. The
British, hearing the commotion and seeing the moving lights, decided
that reinforcements had arrived and quickly sailed off.
The Plaza de Hostos is located near La Casita, features artisan
displays, snack stands, and traditional piragüeros, who sell shaved
ice topped with tropical fruit syrup.
Paseo de la Princesa
Paseo de la Princesa skirts the curved walls of the old city,
greeting tourists with shops, cafes and a delicate fountain along
its shoreline path. One of the most pleasant San Juan attractions,
the street is a nice way to take in the Caribbean sun on an
afternoon stroll. Lined with flowers, statues, palm trees and all
sorts of things you'd expect on a stylish little street, Paseo de La
Princesa connects the port to the city gate.
From the path laid out by Paseo de la Princesa, Old San Juan shines.
The promenade is home to a large number of cultural events, and a
wealth of people enjoying the midday ritual of a glass of Piragua, a
tasty mix of ice and tropical fruit syrups. You definitely won't be
the only person drinking one.
Paseo de la Princesa Old San Juan offers views of nearby Isla de
Cabras that is home to an old Spanish prison. A fountain marks the
street's end. The prison is now home to Puerto Rico's tourism
headquarters. But the imposing fortress walls that line the street
seem unchanged since the day they were constructed. Much like the
nearby El Morro and the most popular San Juan attractions, this
street is steeped in the city's colonial history, with its 1600s
architecture fully preserved.
Another of the San Juan attractions found on Paseo de la Princesa is
the Racies/Roots Fountain. Full of bronze statues celebrating the
city's rich cultural heritage, it's often the stopping point for
couples and/or partiers, (depending on the time of night). The
terraced decks nearby are perfect to take in the ever-changing San
Juan scene, and are often the site of musical performances
throughout the week. Another attraction along the pathway is one of
the original six gated passageways, known as the Puerta de San Juan
- of the six, it's the only one remaining.
The Paseo de la Princesa has become such a staple of tourism in San
Juan that the promenade has been further developed in the past ten
years, offering wondrous looks of El Morro and panoramic views of
the port, rocky cliffs and the rest of the city. But it's the
original half of the pathway tracing the old city walls that brings
in the majority of tourists. Of all the attractions in the Old San
Juan, this is one of the most visited spots because what you see
changes with the time of the day. Whether it's the sunset
performances, sun-drenched views or midnight strolls that you would
like to see, the Paseo de la Princesa is a great place to get
acquainted with the city of San Juan.
Forts
El Morro, the word itself sounds powerful and this six-level
fortress certainly is. Begun in 1540 and completed in 1589. San
Felipe del Morro was named in honor of King Phillip II. Most of the
walls in the fort today were added later, in a period of tremendous
construction from the 1760's-1780's. Rising 140 feet above the sea,
its 18-foot-thick wall proved a formidable defense. It fell only
once, in 1598, to a land assault by the Earl of Cumberland's forces.
The fort is a maze of tunnels, dungeons, barracks, outposts and
ramps. El Morro is studded with small, circular sentry boxes called
"garitas" that have become a national symbol.
The views of San Juan Bay from El Morro are spectacular. The area
was designated a National Historic Site in February of 1949 with 74
total acres. It has the distinction of being the largest
fortification in the Caribbean. In 1992, the fortress was restored
to its original historical form in honor of the 500th anniversary of
Christopher Columbus' discovery of Puerto Rico. El Morro Fortress is
a National Historic Site administered by the National Park Service.
The fort is open to the public daily from 9am to 5pm
Castillo de San Cristóbal (San Cristóbal Fort) is El Morro's partner
in the city's defense. Built in 1634 (completed in 1771), was
considered the Gibraltar of the West Indies. San Cristóbal was
supported by a massive system of outworks that provided defense in
depth and is one of the largest defenses ever built in the Americas.
It rose 150 feet, covering 27 acres of land. As if its size and
height weren't sufficient to intimidate enemies, its intricate
modular design was sure to foil them. A strategic masterpiece, it
features five independent units, each connected by moat and tunnel;
each fully self-sufficient should the others fall. Open daily from
9am to 6pm
The Fuerte San Gerónimo (San Gerónimo Fort) was built on the
opposite end of San Juan to strengthen the city's defenses. The fort
is located behind the Caribe Hilton Hotel, with small military
museum in Puerta de Tierra.
The Santa Elena Battery building with a long chimney-topped bunker
was the formal army storage area.
Parks
The Parque de las Palomas (pigeon park) is located at the top of the
city wall, this park overlooks the restored La Princesa Jail, now a
government office with an attractive art gallery. The park is the
perfect spot from which to enjoy a magnificent view of the harbor,
city and mountains.
The Muñoz Rivera Park is an spacious ocean side park with large
trees, landscape gardens and wide walks, located on Jesús T. Piñero
Avenue. The park is open Tues-Sun 9:00am - 5:00pm.
Other parks include: Martí Coll Linera Park, and Central Park (with
facilities for jogging, baseball, calisthenics and tennis).
El Yunque Rain Forest
When you're in San Juan, don't miss the opportunity to witness the
pinnacle of natural beauty by exploring Puerto Rico's El Yunque Rain
Forest. It features more than 240 species of trees, hundreds of
miniature orchids, and what was once believed to be the Fountain of
Youth.
El Yunque Rainforest is located 25 miles southeast of San Juan. It
hosts a number of unique plant and animal species such as the
endangered Puerto Rican Parrot and the tiny coquis (indigenous tree
frogs) that serenade the evening hours. It is a very gentle forest.
In fact, there are no poisonous snakes! The El Yunque Rain Forest is
a cool, mountainous, sub tropical rainforest located on the Eastern
side of the Luquillo Mountains. The actual rainforest is at the top;
you must drive to the top of the road and hike up to see the cloud
or dwarf forest.
The intrigue of visiting the El Yunque rain forest is only partly in
the observation of the varieties of plants that have managed to grow
and adapt to the copious amounts of year round rainfall and winds
near the top. The magic of El Yunque is in the pristine beauty, the
sounds, the quietness and the serenity
Condado Beach
El Condado, as the locals say, is the island's most glamorous
district, featuring boutiques, a variety of restaurants, and some of
the finest hotels on the island. Contrary to popular belief, many
nationals do reside here in the exquisite turn-of-the-century
mansions. You'll notice the populace on any given day to be a good
balance between tourists and locals. If you are an avid jogger,
you'll love the expanse of open area.
Isla Verde
Isla Verde is home to high-rise apartment buildings, huge clubs and
luxurious hotels. This area is actually part of the municipality of
Carolina, connected to San Juan via several highways and streets. It
spans from the Punta Las Marías area (adjacent to Ocean Park) to the
land just beyond the International Airport. Its nightlife is
exciting, and the enormous balneario, or public beach, is where
locals and guests come to sunbathe and get their fill of
people-watching.
Hato Rey
Hato Rey is several miles from Old San Juan but is easily
accessible. It is the island's central commercial district, where
the local wheelers and dealers conduct their business. Thus, its
restaurant scene caters to more business people than anywhere else
on the island. Roosevelt, the district's residential area, can be
found just off Highway 52. It is one of the most famous venues for
nightlife in San Juan, and the Plaza Las Americas, the Caribbean's
largest mall, is also located here.
Santurce/Miramar
Both the Santurce and Miramar districts are located just off Condado
and Old San Juan, but north of Hato Rey. Santurce was originally an
upper-class neighborhood and entertainment. Today, there are office
buildings and abandoned structures with a small but very good
marketplace (Plaza del Mercado). A major campaign is under way by
City Hall to restore the sector's vitality.
Río Piedras
This district is known as University City because it houses the
University of Puerto Rico. Visiting Río Piedras is enlightening for
those who want to explore the real Puerto Rico first-hand. The
district has a traditional Plaza del Mercado and a very hometown
atmosphere.
|
Old San Juan/Puerta de
Tierra
Paseo de la Princesa
El Morro Fortress
El Bano
Grande
El Yunque
Rain Forest
El Yunque
Rain Forest
El Yunque
Rain Forest
Hato Rey |
