The Cathedral of San Juan-The Cathedral, founded in 1521, is one of the most important in the Caribbean.
Calle Cristo- The streets of Old Dan John are made of cobblestones, blue stones used as weight in Spanish ships
The Parque de las Palomas- is surrounded by the wall of San Juan and from there observe magnificent views of the bay and the city
ARCHITECTURE
The Capitol-This government building was built in the 1920s for the offices of senators and representatives
San Cristóbal Castle - This castle is a good example of military architecture of the Baroque period
The Iglesia de San José - The construction of this church began in 1532. The main chapel is an excellent example of Spanish Gothic architecture of the sixteenth century
CULTURAL LIFE
La labor del encaje de bolillos- The work of lace, made with pins and rolls on the scene, full of straw, has been a great renaissance. In Puerto Rico called the small world craftsmanship
Las Casa Blanca- Built in 1521, this building served as residence of Ponce de Leon for over 250 years. Today it is a museum of the history of the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth Taino artifacts.
Pablo Casals Museum- Calle San Sebastian, has in his manuscript collection, photographing and video of the famous musician and conductor Pablo Casals.
CONTEMPORARY LIFE
La Plaza de Armas- (The main square) is a very important commercial center in the city
La Calle Fortaleza- (The fortress-street) is full of shops and many people, the street reflects the daily life of Old San Juan
La estatua de Cristobal Colon- The Columbus statue graces the Plaza de Colon commemorates the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Europeans in Puerto Rico
HISTORY CONNECTION
- Juan Ponce de Leon was the first governor of Puerto Rico, from 1510 to 1512. A legend says that in searching for the fountain of youth he discovered Florida in 1513. Leon’s expedition led him to discover that there really wasn’t a gold path in the new world.
