Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 153 Calle del Cristo; 8am-5pm)
Although noticeably smaller and more austere than
other Spanish churches, the Catedral de San Juan nonetheless retains a simple earthy el-
egance. Founded originally in the 1520s, the first church on this site was destroyed in a
hurricane in 1529. A replacement was constructed in 1540 and, over a period of centuries,
it slowly evolved into the Gothic/neoclassical-inspired monument seen today.
Most people come to see the marble tomb of Ponce de León and the body of religious
martyr St Pio displayed under glass. However, you can get quite a show here on Saturday
afternoons when the limos roll up and bridal parties requisition the front steps. The main
entrance to the cathedral faces a beautiful shaded park replete with antique benches and
gnarly trees.
Museo de San Juan
MUSEUM
( 787-723-4317; 150 Norzagaray; donations accepted; 9am-4pm Tue-Fri,
10am-4pm Sat & Sun)
Located in a Spanish colonial building at the corner of Calle
MacArthur, the Museo de San Juan is the definitive take on the city's 500-year history.
The well-laid-out exhibition showcases pictorial and photographic testimonies from the
Caparra ruins to the modern-day shopping malls. There's also a half-hour TV documentary
(in both Spanish and English) about the history of San Juan.
Iglesia de San José
CHURCH
(
www.iglesiasanjosepr.org
;adult/child$1/free; noon-6pm2nd&4thSatofmonth,
mass 12:30pm 4th Sat)
What it lacks in grandiosity it makes up for in age; the Iglesia de
San José in the Plaza de San José is the second-oldest church in the Americas, after the
cathedral in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Established in 1523 by Dominic-
ans, this church with its vaulted Gothic ceilings still bears the coat of arms of Juan Ponce de
León (whose family worshipped here), a striking carving of the Crucifixion and ornate pro-
cessional floats. For 350 years, the remains of Ponce de León rested in a crypt here before
being moved to the city's cathedral, down the hill. Another relic missing from the chapel
is a Flemish carving of the Virgin of Bethlehem, which came to the island during the first
few years of the colony and disappeared in the early 1970s. It's also the final resting place
of José Campeche (
Click here
), one of Puerto Rico's most revered artists, and the site of
Puerto Rico's oldest fresco painting.
Though long-term renovation has transformed the church into a construction site, it's
worth visiting during its limited public hours. The exposed structural details of the church
are fascinating, and an extensive bilingual exhibit highlights some of the archaeological
discoveries made during the restoration process.
