Spotlight: Puerto Rico - Old San Juan

Spotlight: San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico. Viejo (Old) San Juan is the second oldest continuous European settlement in the Americas. The island was first visited by Christopher Columbus in 1493, and named San Juan Bautista after Saint John the Baptist. In 1508 Juan Ponce de Leon was sent by Spain to establish a colony and become its first governor. He founded the original settlement, Caparra, but it was abandoned a year later and moved to its present location and named Puerto Rico. In 1521, the city was named San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico. It quickly became Spain's most important military outpost in the Caribbean since all ships sailing to and from Spain passed through to restock before or after the trans-Atlantic voyage. Eventually the names of the city and island were switched and the city became known as San Juan and the island Puerto Rico. The city became known for its beautiful blue cobblestone streets, flat-roofed brick and stone buildings, and tropical beaches. Old San Juan is a National Historic Landmark District and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Location: Viejo San Juan is located on the long, thin island that sits just north of the mainland, helping protect the remarkable San Juan Bay from rough ocean waters. It is connected to the mainland by three bridges

Cost: The parks are free, as are many of the buildings. Those that charge admission fees are very reasonable (a few dollars per person).

Time: We spent a day and a half exploring, and could have easily spent a week there.

Description: The principal building in the original settlement was Casa Blanca - a fortified mansion that served as the residence of the Ponce de Leon family for more than 250 years. Although the original wooden structure was destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt of stone and brick and later taken over by the Spanish Military. When control of the island was ceded to the U.S., it was used by U.S. military commanders until 1966. Today it has been preserved as a museum, preserving the history of San Juan during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.
     La Fortaleza was originally built to protect San Juan Harbor. When it was deemed inadequate to protect the harbor, it was converted into the official Governor's residence. It is the oldest Governor's Mansion still in use in the western hemisphere.

Governor's Mansion

     El Capitolio houses the offices of senators in one wing, and those of representatives in the other. It is decorated with beautiful friezes, mosaics, and an impressive rotunda.

El Capitolio

     Three forts, El Morro, San Cristobal, and Fuerte San Geronimo dominate the northern coast of the island, where they were constructed to protect the city from invasion by enemy fleets. The Cementerio, located at the base of El Morro, is one of the most picturesque cemeteries in the world.
     Calle de Cristo is the street that connects Capilla de Cristo with Catedral de San Juan - the second oldest cathedral in the western hemisphere. The street is paved with beautiful blue cobblestones made from adoquine (cast from furnace slag). Originally used as ballast on Spanish ships, time and moisture have given them their distinct color.

Calle de Cristo made of blue cobblestones

     In addition to the beautifully preserved buildings, Viejo San Juan is also known for its scenic parks and plazas. The Parque de las Palomas (Park of the Doves), next to Capilla de Cristo, has a brick wall full of pigeon-holes where hundreds of birds nest. It has magnificent views of the harbor, city and mountains. Just be careful not to stand too long underneath the trees.

     The Plaza de Armas is Old San Juan's main square. It features four statues representing the four seasons, and is surrounded by several important buildings including the city hall.

     The Plaza de Colon was originally called St. James Square. It was renamed in 1893 to honor the 400th anniversary of Columbus's first visit to the island. Bronze tablets on the statue of Columbus chronicle important events in the explorer's life.

     The Plaza del Quinto Centenario opened on October 12, 1992 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus's arrival in the Americas. A twelve meter pillar, the Totem Telurico, dominates the plaza from the highest point in the city. Totem Telurico is made from black granite with ceramic replicas of archaeological artifacts as a symbol of Puerto Rico's indigenous roots, particularly the Tainos.

Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: - Viejo San Juan is surrounded by a thick wall (up to 20 ft. thick and 40 ft. tall) that protected the city from invaders. Six heavy doors in the wall (including the famous Puerta de San Juan) were shut at sunset every night, cutting off access to and from the city.

- Old San Juan is one of 11 barrios (neighborhoods) that make up modern San Juan.
- Old San Juan contains more than 400 carefully restored 16th and 17th century colonial buildings.
- A free trolley service helps visitors get around the city. It runs Monday - Friday from 7 am - 6 pm, and Saturday - Sunday from 9 am - 7 pm, every 15 minutes.
- If you want to try authentic Puerto Rican food, I recommend Raices. The mofongo and fried pork w/ onions were absolutely delicious.

Eating mofongo at Raices

- There was a heavy police presence in San Juan, with representatives of several different branches (including a special force dedicated to tourist areas).
- Gas prices appeared extremely low until we realized that they were in liters instead of gallons.
- Since Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, you don't need a passport.

Nearby: El Morro, Parque del Tercer Milenio, Isla de Cabras, Coliseo de Puerto Rico Jose Miguel Agrelot