subject: Explore San Juan [print this page] If all you know is the modern world then you have limited yourself a great deal. If you would like to explore a bit of the old, a good place to visit is San Juan. The capital city of Puerto Rico has a history dating back more than 400 years. When you visit San Juan, you will share in the experience of the Old World. When you visit San Juan and immerse yourself in the culture, you will have a distinct feeling of going back in history.
San Juan was established in 1521 as a Spanish empire settlement and the Spanish influence is still evident to date. The city has gone through many difficult times, from the invasion of British troops toward the end of the 1500s to bombings in the Spanish-American War. It has weathered the storms and emerged as one of the greatest industrialized cities.
San Juan is divided into three main districts: Old San Juan, the Beach and Resort area, and outlying communities. As you have probably guessed, many of the historical landmarks are found within the Old San Juan district. Walking along the streets can make you feel as though you have slipped back in time. The streets are of cobbled blue stones cast from a furnace slag known as adoquine. Elemental exposure has caused the color changes. The stones are not native to South America. These were brought in by Spanish ships.
The old buildings also show the city's Spanish past. In addition to such historical pieces of architecture, the city has a number of monuments, museums, plazas, and parks. The central plaza in Old San Juan is the Plaza de Armas, which has four statues representing the four seasons of the year. All the statues are more than a hundred years old. The plaza, which is along the San Jose Street, is a popular place with both locals and visitors alike.
If you would like to see the statue of the first governor of Puerto Rico, visit Plaza de San Jose. Juan Ponce de Leon's imposing statue was designed from the British cannons captured during the 18th century British attacks.
One of the special features of Old San Juan are its great forts. Erected to enhance the defenses of the city, the forts were built over the course of decades during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. El Morro is the largest fort in the whole of the Caribbean. It withstood many attacks and fell just once when assaulted by the British in 1598. The fort has a number of dungeons, tunnels, ramps, and barracks. However, it is better known for its circular sentry boxes known as garitas. The National Park Service declared El Morro a National Historic Site.
Another great fort is the Castillo de San Cristobal, which stands 150 feet high. The fortress covers 27 acres and is made of five separate structures that are joined by tunnel and moat. UNESCO set Castillo de San Cristobal apart as one of the World Heritage Sites.
These are just some of the landmarks that will give you a glimpse of history in San Juan.
