Historic Sites

Historic Sites in San Juan

Puerto Rico's capital San Juan is a region in the Caribbean islands that is rich in history and culture. So it comes as no surprise that one can find many historic destinations all over the city. The preservation of these sites not only make sure that Puerto Rican history remains intact, but also make the island a famous vacation destination.

One such destination is the area considered as and officially called the Old San Juan. The Old San Juan is a neighborhood that has existed for the past 465 years, originally serving as a military stronghold. Now a quaint and rustic residential and commercial area, a walk around its area of 7-square blocks covered in cobbles and adoquine can have one experience and imagine how it all might have looked four centuries ago. The Old San Juan is also composed of a few plazas, with each having its own unique character that adds to the charm of the neighborhood. Plaza del Quinto Centenario is one of these plazas, and is often related to Puerto Rico's commemoration of Columbus' discovery of the new world when it celebrated its 500th anniversary some time ago. The 40 foot monument created by one of Puerto Rico's finest artists Jaime Suarez can also be found in the Plaza del Quinto Centenario. Plaza de San Jose has its own monument that rival's Jaime Suarez' work in the form of a giant bronze statue of Ponce de Leon. This area of Old San Juan is laden with small historic buildings and is a usual hangout for both the young and old. Plaza de Hostos, Plaza de la Rogativa, Plaza de Colon, and Plaza de Armas which was Old San Juan's main square, round out the rest of the plazas that comprises the whole of Old San Juan.

El Morro is another historic landmark found in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This towering fortress has six levels and took 49 years to build from 1540 to 1589. El Morro is an imposing structure that rises 140 feet above the sea, with its 18-feet thick walls fortified to withstand most attacks from the sea. The fort is composed of barracks, dungeons, tunnels, ramps, and outposts, plus circular sentry boxes called garitas which have pretty much become a national symbol of Puerto Rico.

On the opposite end of San Juan in Puerto Rico, one can find the Fuerte San Geronimo just as astonishing as El Morro. It was strategically placed and built on the other end of San Juan as a means of intensifying the city's defenses. Visitors can also learn more about San Juan's history by checking out a small museum a stone's throw away in Puerta del Tierra.

The building known as El Capitolio was utilized in the past as the location where senators and representatives held office. Galleries and mosaics glitter the domain and its rotunda is famous for being the exhibition site of the Puerto Rican Constitution.

There are a lot more areas as historic as the ones mentioned if only one would find the time to visit and walk around the streets of San Juan. Each monument, statue, old building is a wellspring of the past and history of this proud city.