Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Through the later half of the 20th century, Ponce limped along producing textiles and
cement, though it was only relatively recently that Operation Bootstrap's other impetus -
tourism - began to have a positive affect the region. It has gradually reestablished itself as
a historic center for tourists (helped dramatically by a highway connecting it to San Juan)
and entered the modern age with an economy augmented by producing plastics, rum and
pharmaceuticals.
Sights
Should you ever get lost in Ponce, just look to the skies for a sign from God: the town's two
infallible landmarks are the towering steeples of the Catedral Nuestra Señora de Guada-
lupe, which sits regally at the center of the lovely Plaza Las Delicias, and an enormous
concrete-and-glass cross, El Vigía, which overlooks the town to the north.
As you navigate your way through the outskirts of Ponce, its first impression, charac-
terized by traffic jams and mini malls, is less than inspiring. But the soul of Ponce is its
idyllic Spanish colonial plaza and the surrounding grid of streets. These blocks host pictur-
esque historic buildings painted in pastels and outfitted with ornate second-story balconies,
shuttered windows and solid wooden doors. Some are elegantly restored, many are slouch-
ing in a broken-hearted state of disrepair, but the area makes for a romantic stroll.
