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Covering an area of seven blocks, Old San Juan features up to four hundred superbly restored 16th and 17th-century Spanish colonial buildings. Those who have done so, agree that one of the best ways to explore this historical treasure is on foot, giving yourself time to take in the details you may otherwise miss. Information on the various attractions of Old San Juan can be obtained from the Puerto Rico Tourism Company’s Visitor Center located opposite Plaza de la Darsena, which is a good place to start a walking tour.
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Starting just beyond the airport in San Juan and heading towards Loíza, Route 187 hugs the coastline offering some spectacular scenery on a road less traveled. Along Route 187, Piñones boasts the island's largest mangrove forest and is home to a community representing the fascinating Afro-Caribbean cultural heritage of Puerto Rico. Kiosks alongside the road at Piñones offer traditional foods, including pasteles, bacalaítos, alcapurrias, arepas and empanadillas, as well as colorful crafts and coconut masks. Visitors can hike or ride a hired bicycle along the paths leading to two points offering spectacular panoramic views of the coastline and mangrove forests. A small beach, referred to locally as La Pocita, is perfect for relaxing on, while some cafés and restaurants offer a place to sit and socialize. Further along Route 187 is Vacía Talega - one of the island's most beautiful beaches.
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As the main plaza in the Puerto Rican city of Ponce, Plaza Las Delicias features landscaped gardens, sparkling fountains and many noteworthy monuments and buildings, including the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (more often referred to simply as Ponce Cathedral), and the historic firehouse building Parque de Bombas. Bordering the Plaza Las Delicias is the Teatro Fox Delicias to the north, the Ponce City Hall to the south, the Armstrong-Poventud Residence to the west, and to the east are two historic buildings which previously housed the first banking institutions in Puerto Rico – the Banco de Ponce and Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño. The Plaza Las Delicias dates back to the time of early Spanish settlement in Puerto Rico's history, and is actually a combination of two squares – Plaza Degetau and Plaza Muñoz – with the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe and the Parque de Bombas located between them.
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If you're looking for some entertainment or relaxation in the city of Ponce, be sure to make your way to the La Playa barrio where you will find the La Guancha Recreational and Cultural Complex. Opened in June 1998, the area boasts fine facilities that the whole family can enjoy.
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Ponce is a city brimming with cultural and historical attractions, many of which are found in the Ponce Historic Zone. Located in the Barrio Tercero, Tricentennial Park (Parque del Tricentenario) stands at the entrance of this Historic Zone. The large urban park was established in 1992 to celebrate the 300th anniversary Ponce's founding. Tricentennial Park encompasses the main entrance of the Ponce Historic Zone, The Bridge of the Lions (El Puente de los Leones), The Illustrious Ponce Citizens Plaza (Parque de los Ponceños Ilustres), The Francisco Porrata Doria Architecture Plaza (Plaza de la Arquitectura Francisco Porrata Doria), and The Latin American Statesmen Plaza (Plaza de los Próceres Latinoamericanos).
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Tucked away in Magueyes Urbano, a residential suburb of Ponce, is the historical landmark of Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Cemetery (Cementerio Católico San Vicente de Paul). This strictly Catholic cemetery was developed at the beginning of the 20th century by the priests of San Vicente de Paul Catholic Church, and in 1901 parishioners were invited to buy burial plots at the price of $60 each. This price put the plots beyond the reach of anyone but the wealthy, who built elaborately decorated graves and mausoleums, many of which remain today. Named in honor of the French Roman Catholic priest who was known for his dedication to relieving the suffering of the poor, the Cementerio Católico San Vicente de Paul is the only cemetery in Puerto Rico featuring a type of catacomb – a group of niches forming an underground burial chamber.
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The Albergue Caritativo Tricoche, also referred to as Hospital Tricoche, is an extremely significant building in the city of Ponce, not only for its historical value but for services it has provided to the community for centuries. The construction of this building would not have been possible if it was not for the endowment left by Mr Valentin Tricoche in his final will and testament in 1878. He left his funds to the City of Ponce and the money was well spent as a shelter hospital was constructed to assist the needy and poor communities of the city.
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The Mona Passage is located between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. To make the passage safer for boats, it was decided to construct a lighthouse on Mona Island. The lighthouse is located on the eastern side of the island and the Spanish Government had two sets of plans commissioned in 1885 and 1886. Since its construction it has become a historical monument and attraction for the Puerto Rican tourism industry.
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