Plaza de Colón an important square in Old San Juan was originally called St. James Square but was renamed in 1893 to honor Christopher Columbus on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of his discovery of Puerto Rico.

Bacardi Rum Distillery; Bacardi built their first distillery in Cuba in 1862 but was moved to San Juan in 1960s when Castro confiscated the factory in Cuba. There is a free guided tour of the facility and a small museum of the Bacardi family Caribbean Property

Plaza Del Quinto Centenario opened in October of 1992 and its location at the highest point of the city ensures beautiful views of the ocean and Old San Juan Property Club

Plazuela de la Rogativa has a wonderful bronze statue of three women in a procession that commemorates a miraculous event that took place in 1797.

Catedral de San Juan was begun in 1540 and the original wooden walls and thatched roof were blown apart by a hurricane in 1529. It is only in the 19^th century the building gained the graceful gothic vaults and the central spiral staircase you see today. Mass is still celebrated daily.

Plaza De San José; the statue of Ponce de Leon that still stands guard over this square was made from the melted cannons of a failed British attack in 1797. Historic buildings surround the plaza, which is a popular meeting place.

Alcadía, San Juan’s city hall was constructed in stages beginning in 1604 and finishing in 1789. An information center is located near the entrance and there is an art gallery on the first floor of the building which has its own tiled courtyard and overhanging balcony.

Paseo La Princesa or the “Promenade of the Princess” is a lovely, tree-lined walk designed and built in the 19th century features benches, decorative street lamps and shady sidewalks that make walking the path a pleasure.

Arecibo Observatory is associated with Cornell University’s National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center and boasts the world’s largest radar-radio telescope.

Capitolio home to the 1952 Constitution, the Senate and the House of Representatives, first built in the 1920s is still a marvel with its intricate friezes, colorful mosaics and spacious gallery.

Avis, Enterprise, E-Z rent a car, Charlie Car Rental, Expedia and Thrifty are some of the car rental agencies in San Juan.

2 Responses to “San Juan Attractions”