Where to go in Puerto Rico: Old San Juan
Description
This article is from the Puerto Rico FAQ, by Zeydy Ortiz Laureano zortizl@eos.ncsu.edu with numerous contributions by others.
Where to go in Puerto Rico: Old San Juan
The old capital city (pop. 438,000) of Puerto Rico has always
fascinated, but now, after all the restoration work that was done for
the 500th anniversary of Columbus' voyage, it's a must-see. Projects
included restoring the Esplanade along the waterfront to its
19th-century splendor and adding new shops and restaurants opposite
the cruise ship docks. The original town, Old San Juan, founded in
1521 (the oldest capital in the USA), sits on a small peninsula
facing the Atlantic Ocean.
Image: < http://hpprdk01.prd.hp.com/images/oldsj.gif >
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PLACE TELEPHONE NUMBER HOURS OF OPERATION
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> LA CASITA (787) 722- 1709 Open daily
Puerto Rico Tourism Company information center
> LA PRINCESA (787) 721-2400 Gallery of island art:
Open M-F 9:00am-noon,
1:00pm-4:00pm
Headquarters of the Tourism Company
Image: < http://hpprdk01.prd.hp.com/images/princesa.gif >
> LA FORTALEZA (787) 721-7000 M-F 9:00am-4:00pm
(the fortress) ext. 2211, 2358 except holidays
Tours in English every hour and in Spanish every half hour;
proper attire required.
Image: < http://hpprdk01.prd.hp.com/images/fortalez.gif >
> CASA BLANCA (787) 724-4102 Tu-Su: 9:00am-noon,
(white house) 1:00pm-4:30pm
Museum of family life in 16th- and 17th-century Puerto Rico and
an ethnographic museum with a miniature re-creation of a Taino
village.
> FUERTE SAN FELIPE (787) 729-6960 Museum Open Daily
DEL MORRO (El Morro fort) 9:00am-5:00pm
One of the city's military fortifications, contains a small museum;
tours, orientation, and video presentation available in English and
Spanish
Images: < http://hpprdk01.prd.hp.com/images/morro.gif >,
< http://hpprdk01.prd.hp.com/images/morro2.gif >, and
< http://hpprdk01.prd.hp.com/images/morro3.gif >
> ASILO DE BENEFICENCIA (787) 724-5949 Galleries Open
(home for the poor) (787) 724-5477 W-Su: 9:00am-4:30pm
Headquarters of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and several
changing exhibition galleries
> CUARTEL DE BALLAJA (787) 724-5052 Tu-F: 10:00am-4:00pm
(Ballaja barracks) Sa-Su: 11:00am-5:00pm
The Museum of the Americas (in the second floor) features changing
exhibitions, archaeological finds of the Ballaja area and an exhibit
of crafts in the Americas
> IGLESIA DE SAN JOSE (787) 725-7501 M-Sa: 8:30am-4:00pm
(San Jose church) Sunday mass: 12:15pm
Second oldest church in the Western Hemisphere
Image: < http://hpprdk01.prd.hp.com/images/sanjose.gif >
> CONVENTO DE LOS DOMINICOS (787) 721-6866 M-Sa: 9:00am-5:00pm
(Dominican convent)
Institute of Puerto Rican Culture book and music book store
> MUSEO DE PABLO CASALS (787) 723-9185 Tu-Sa: 9:30am-5:30am
(Casals museum)
Collection of memorabilia from the master cellist's legacy to the
people of Puerto Rico holds manuscripts, photographs and videotapes
of Casals Festival concerts
> CASA DE LAS CONTRAFUERTES (787) 724-5477 W-Su: 9:00am-4:30pm
(house of buttresses)
Periodic exhibitions are held in its Museum of Latin American Prints
(second floor). The small Pharmacy Museum displays a 19th-century
drugstore complete with scales and old bottles
> CATEDRAL DE SAN JUAN (787) 722-0861 Daily: 8:30am-4:00pm
(San Juan cathedral)
Contains the marble tomb of the island's first governor Juan Ponce
de Leon and the relic of San Pio, a Roman martyr
> CENTRO NACIONAL DE (787) 722-0621 M-F: 9:30am-5:00pm
ARTES POPULARES Y ARTESANIAS
(Popular Arts and Crafts Center)
A variety of island crafts are displayed and offered for sale
> CASA DEL LIBRO (787) 723-0354 Tu-Sa: 11:00am-4:30pm
(house of books) except holidays
Small museum and library devoted to the art of printing and
book-making
> CAPILLA DE CRISTO Tu: 10:00am-3:30pm
(Christ chapel)
Image: < http://hpprdk01.prd.hp.com/images/ccristo.gif >
> MUSEO DE ARTE E (787) 724-1875 M-F: 8:00am-4:00pm
HISTORIA DE SAN JUAN
(museum of art and history)
Galleries for changing exhibitions
> CASA DE LOS DOS (787) 724-5477 M-F: 8:00am-4:00pm
ZAGUANES (house of the
two foyers)
> MUSEO DEL NINO (787) 722-3791 Tu-Th: 9:30am-3:30pm
(children's museum) Sa-Su: 11:00am-4:00pm
Educational exhibits for children
> MUSEO FELISA RINCON (787) 723-1897 M-F: 9:00am-4:00pm
DE GAUTIER (Rincon de except holidays
Gautier museum)
Former home of one of San Juan's most popular mayors
> EL ARSENAL (787) 724-5949 W-Su: 9:00am-4:30pm
(the arsenal)
Center for changing art exhibitions
> TEATRO TAPIA (787) 722-0407 Call for information
(Tapia theater)
Setting for cultural events
> EL CAPITOLIO (787) 721-7305 M-F - Reservations
(the capitol building) requested
Seat of the bicameral legislature of Puerto Rico with galleries,
friezes, mosaics and exhibition of Puerto Rico's constitution
Images: < http://hpprdk01.prd.hp.com/images/capitol.gif >, and
< http://hpprdk01.prd.hp.com/images/capitol2.gif >
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