Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Puerta de San Juan
GATE
(San Juan Gate;
Click here
)
Spanish ships once anchored in the cove just off these ram-
parts to unload colonists and supplies, all of which entered the city through a tall red portal
known as Puerta de San Juan. This tunnel through the wall dates from the 1630s. It marks
the end of the Paseo de la Princesa, and stands as one of three remaining gates into the old
city (the others lead into the cemetery and the enclave of La Perla). Once there were a total
of five gates, and the massive wooden doors were closed each night to thwart intruders.
Turn right after passing through the gate and you can follow the Paseo del Morro northw-
est, paralleling the city walls for approximately three-quarters of a mile.
Plaza de Armas
SQUARE
(ArmyPlaza;
Click here
)
Follow San Francisco into the heart of the old city and it opens
on to the Plaza de Armas. This is the city's nominal 'central' square, laid out in the 16th
century with the classic look of plazas from Madrid and Mexico.
In its time, the plaza has served as a military parade ground (hence its name), a vegetable
market and a social center. Shade trees, banks of seats, and a couple of old-fashioned coffee
booths still make the plaza the destination of choice for couples taking their evening stroll.
The beat of a
bomba
drum has also been known to light up an otherwise humdrum evening.
One of the highlights of the plaza is the
AlcaldÃa (City Hall;
Click here
;
787-724-7171;
www.sanjuan.pr
; 9am-4pm Mon-Fri)
, which dates from 1789 and
has twin turrets resembling those of its counterpart in Madrid. This building houses the of-
fice of the mayor of San Juan and is also the site of periodic exhibitions.
At the western end of the plaza, the
Intendencia (Administration Bldg;
Click here
)
and the
Diputación (Provincial Delegation Bldg;
Click here
)
are two other functioning
government buildings adding to the charms of the plaza. Both represent 19th-century neo-
classical architecture, and come complete with cloisters.
Cementerio de San Juan
CEMETERY
Sitting just outside the northern fortifications of the old city, the neoclassical chapel in the
cemetery provides a focal point among the graves. The colony's earliest citizens are bur-
ied here, as well as the famous Puerto Rican freedom fighter Pedro Albizu-Campos. This
Harvard-educated chemical engineer, lawyer and politician led the agricultural workers'
strikes in 1934 and was at the forefront of the movement for Puerto Rican independence
until his arrest and imprisonment in 1936. A number of muggings have occurred here, so
be careful.
