In , in honor of the th anniversary of the discovery of Puerto Rico by Christopher Columbus, the fortress was restored to its historical architectural grace and beauty. Built in completed in , was considered the Gibraltar of the West Indies. It rose 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. National Park Service. Open daily from 9am to 6pm; The Santa Elena Battery building with a long chimney-topped bunker was the formal army storage area. La Fortaleza also known as the Palacio de Santa Catalina began construction in and finalized the 25 of May of , as a fortress.
It was authorized to be built by Charles V as a defense against Carib Indian attacks. The building was the first of a series of military facilities constructed in the Bay of San Juan, but soon later proved inadequate to guard the entrance to the harbor, and became the official Governor's Residence.
The oldest governor's mansion still used as such in Western Hemisphere and part of the old city's World Heritage Site. It has been occupied twice by invaders; by the Earl of Cumberland in and by the Dutch General Bowdoin Hendrick in when the building was damaged by fire. A major reconstruction was undertaken in In , the building was remodeled and given a palatial aspect, uniting harmoniously 16th century military architecture with the refinements of the 19th century. It has been the home of governors of Puerto Rico and is the official residence of the current governor.
Although the original structure Palatial Building surrounded by gardens was very primitive, La Fortaleza has undergone numerous changes over its years of history. Free tours are available daily. Open Mon-Fri ampm; guided tours in English on the hour, in Spanish every 30 minutes, ext.
Tours last about 40 minutes. Access to the official areas is not permitted. In the 's the building was heavily remodeled providing its present day facade intended by its builders to be an exact replica of Madrid's. The building has a tourism information center and a small gallery for periodic exhibitions.
Open Mon-Fri 8am - 4pm, except holidays. Free admissions. El Capitolio Capitol Building of Puerto Rico hold the offices of senators on one wing and those of representatives on the other, with galleries, friezes, mosaics and an impressive rotunda in which Puerto Rico's constitution is exhibited. Construction began in and the building was inaugurated on February 11, Guided tours by appointment only, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, ext. The original church on these grounds had wooden walls and a thatched roof.
It was destroyed by hurricane in October 4th , rebuilt in in , looted in , and damaged by another hurricane in The Cathedral as seen today is the result of work done in , when major restorations were performed.
This Cathedral is an authentic and rare New World example of medieval architecture. San Juan Cathedral still holds religious services on a regular schedule. Visitors can explore the cathedral from am to 4pm daily. Originally called the Church and Monastery of Saint Thomas Aquinas, it was built by Dominican friars to serve as the monastery's church and chapel dedicated to Saint Thomas Aquinas.
The section erected in , the Main Chapel or Sanctuary, is an excellent example of 16th century Spanish Gothic architecture. Open Mon-Sat am - 4pm, Sun mass at pm; The Capilla del Cristo Cristo Chapel was built in the 18th century The stories surrounding the history of this small chapel conflict wildly except on one point: someone on horseback took a terrible spill off the cliffs at the end of Calle Cristo.
Whether he lived, and the chapel was built to commemorate the miracle, or whether he died, and the chapel was to block off the street and prevent such an accident from happening again, is the part of the story that is in dispute.
The beautiful Campeche paintings and altar inside can be seen through the church's glass doors. Open Tues. The exterior - in the style of French mansions of the Louis XVI era, a copper copula, a large ballroom with elaborate plaster-work and a foot chandelier distinguish this building. The Teatro Tapia Tapia Theater was built in financed by subscriptions and by taxes on bread and imported liquor and remodeled in and is one of the oldest theaters in the Western Hemisphere, was named for Alejandro Tapia y Rivera, the famous Puerto Rican playwright.
Still hosts a variety of entertainment in the fine arts, plays, ballets and concerts. The modern facilities offer concerts, plays, and opera. It is the largest fine arts center in the Caribbean. Ticket windows are open daily from 10am to 6pm. The average visitor will need about two days to visit the top attractions and one day to see San Juan National Historic Site, eat and find a scenic spot to relax.
You may start your tour at the Tourist office, they have a number of pamphlets and maps to help you plan your visit. You can explore Old San Juan on your own with our self-guided tour guide. You may also book a number of walking tours , the tour guides do an excellent job, you will visit places, hear stories and historical details you would miss with a self-guided tour.
Old San Juan is best enjoyed by foot. If you prefer to do less walking, hop on the free trolley, offering 3 routes. From south to north, the historic town runs uphill. If you have limited mobility or prefer to have an easier walk, simply take the trolley up to the forts and then walk the streets down from the north side.
There are various pharmacies where you can buy cold water, as well as street vendors every few other blocks. We love the ….. Protect your skin: Avoid sunburn and sun poisoning, by wearing sunscreen often throughout the day.
Having a backpack makes travels much easier when walking the city. Old San Juan is a safe residential and tourist area, the police presence is very strong, more than any other tourist destination in Puerto Rico.
Old San Juan is the most popular cruise stop in the Caribbean, during cruise days, there are many people walking around the city, it becomes more vibrant due to the special events that the Puerto Rico Tourism Company holds to welcome and entertain visitors.
The southern part, or port area ports , is the commercial and tourist section that is comprised of shops, piers, and most of the restaurants. It is the oldest area of town where you can find year old homes and buildings. The Spanish settled San Juan in John the Baptist. The city later became known as Puerto Rico meaning rich port. The name changes never got corrected. San Juan quickly became an important Spanish colony and by San Juan had a hospital, university, and even a library!
To fend off pirate attacks from the French, Dutch, and English, the Spanish created two huge forts and walled-in the city.
Construction on El Morro Fort began in The massive fortifications are part of the San Juan National Historic Site , which is administered by the National Park Service and featured separately in this itinerary. Rubio Cancela. This new town replaced the settlement he had established in at Caparra, Puerto Rico, which was near the gold mines that made Puerto Rico valuable to the Spanish.
Spanish ships stopped at San Juan on their journey between Spain and Hispaniola, but the colony struggled as gold became scarce. During this early period, the settlers built a number of significant buildings that still survive in Old San Juan. The church, an example of Gothic and Renaissance architecture, served the St. Thomas of Aquinas Convent that housed the Dominican friars, as well as the surrounding community. Started in and altered over the centuries, the historic cathedral is another example of Gothic and Renaissance Revival architecture.
The colonists included a public plaza used for open-air markets and social exchange, called Plaza de la Catedral , just outside the church. Plazas were common in Spanish cities in Europe at the time.
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