One of the church's chapels has the governors' crypt, where the remains of the governors of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries rest. It recently reopened to the public after being closed for about 20 years for restorations. The San José Church is one of the oldest in America and was built in 1532. The structure has 14 rooms and original furniture from the 16th and 17th centuries. The Casa Blanca Museum is the oldest sample of Spanish architecture in the United States and Puerto Rico. The white and red flag that flies over El Morro is a Spanish military flag known as the 'Cruz de Borgoña.' It has six floors and is higher than the Castillo San Cristóbal, built to prevent attacks by land. You can find artisans and street vendors gathering there during the weekends to greet people visiting the National Historic Site.Ĭalle del Cristo is the oldest street in Old San Juan and has the largest number of religious buildings.Įl Morro was built in 1539 to defend the city from attacks by sea. That door, the only remaining entrance from the colonial era, was the main gate of kings and dignitaries into what became la ciudad amurallada or “the walled city.” The door leads to El Paseo de la Princesa (the Princess Promenade), a pedestrian pathway just outside the walls. That “ideal place” was where the Puerta de San Juan remains today, a significant landmark given it was literally the main entrance to the new city, with the pier on one side and a well on the other. But moving a town is no small task! First, the Spaniards had to build a road from Caparra to the islet and identify the right place to establish the church and the town hall. It was not until 1521 that the Spanish Crown authorized the settlement to move to the islet. However, Ponce de León insisted on staying for reasons related to agriculture. Historical documents captured the concerns regarding the dangerousness of traveling between the town and the port, the lack of adequate ventilation, and the poor health conditions of the residents of Caparra. The ruins of that settlement remain today around seven miles from the islet. Eventually, the inhabitants insisted on moving the town to the islet, complaining that the settlement was too far from the dock where the ships from Spain arrived. You may know him for his continued search for the fountain of youth, but he became the first Spanish governor of the heart and soul of the Caribbean. Years after the rediscovery of Puerto Rico, in 1508, Juan Ponce de León arrived on the Island. Before his arrival, the native Taínos called their home Borikén. Did you know that San Juan and Puerto Rico’s names switched? The islet was first called Puerto Rico, and San Juan Bautista was the name given by the Spanish conquistador Christopher Columbus to the entire Island in 1493.

Old san juan puerto rico map