Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
!
San Germán
1493, although the
residents of Aguadilla
(see p78)
make a similar
claim. In the center
is the Iglesia San
Francisco de Asís, with
its lovely stained-glass
windows, and the
former train station,
which is now home to
the Museo de Aguada,
an impressive history
museum. If possible,
time your visit for mid-
November, when locals
parade to honor Columbus'
arrival.
d
Map B2 • Museo de Aguada:
Av Nativo Alers 7; 787 868 6300; open
8am-noon & 1-4pm Mon-Fri
Puerto Rico's
second-oldest town, the
“City of the Hills” dates
from 1573, although
most of its lovely
colonial buildings were
built during the 19th-
century coffee boom
(see p90)
. The quaint
plazas and narrow
streets that make up
the historic center
are lined with ornate
mansions and centuries-
old churches, including the
Iglesia Porta Coeli, which houses
the island's pre-eminent religious
museum. The town comes to life
every July with its
fi esta patronal
(see p42)
- a festival honoring its
patron saint
(see pp24-5)
.
@
Rincón
Lighthouse
at Rincón
$
Plaza Colón, Mayagüez
A large square in the center
of Puerto Rico's third-largest city,
Plaza Colón is adorned with a
magnifi cent Neo-Classical town
hall and a clock tower, a large
statue of Christopher Columbus,
and various other bronze statues.
Locals gather to play dominoes
in the shade of jacaranda trees
that burst into purple bloom in
spring. The Teatro Yagüez, a
block north, is worth a visit for
its Neo-Classical pillars and Art
Nouveau windows and dome.
d
Map B4 • Teatro Yagüez: Calle
McKinley; 787 833 5195; open 8am-
4:30pm;
guided tours by appointment
This resort town occupies a
triangular peninsula facing the
Mona Passage. It is a great base
in summer for snorkeling and
diving, and in winter for whale-
watching. Rincón is home to
some of the Caribbean's best surf
breaks, and boasts great beaches,
from wave-washed Playa María to
reef-protected Playa Barrero
(see
p39)
, where colorful fi shing boats
line the sands. Accommodations
range from simple campsites to
chic boutique hotels, including the
stately Hotel Horned
Dorset Primavera
(see
p115)
; lively beach
bars and eateries
provide great perches
from which to enjoy
the sunsets.
d
Map B3
£
Aguada
This historic town
is claimed by locals
to be the site where
Christopher Columbus
stepped ashore in
Plaza Colón's town hall
73
