Saturday, November 14, 2015

End of the royal trail where the ocean becomes the bay

It was part former royal path that is now the end of el Paseo del Morro. It is a path that follows under el Morro. It is important because it showed part of our history.

Tito Curet

It is a statue of Tito Curet Alonso, a Puerto Rican composer of many popular salsa songs. It is located in Plaza de las Armas, sitting on his favorite bench.  It was placed there after his death from a heart attack. It is important because it honors the memory of Tito Curet Alonso.

Teatro Tapia

It is a theater buildings in San Juan, named after Alejandro Tapia y Rivera on the Fortaleza Street, built by Jose Navarro y Herrero on September 21, 1824. It is important because it is one of the oldest theaters in Puerto Rico and because it is a monument of Puerto Rican culture.


San Juan Cathedral

The San Juan Cathedral is the Roman Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of Old San Juan Puerto Rico. The cathedral is one of the oldest buildings in San Juan, located in Old San Juan, and is the second oldest cathedral in the Americas.

San Juan City Hall

The San Juan City Hall is located in the middle of Old San Juan in the capital city of Puerto Rico. It is located in front of the Plaza de Armas and next to the Puerto Rico department of state. The City Hall was built in stages from 1604 to 1789. The building has an inner courtyard and is open for tourists to visit. It also showcases small art exhibits from time to time.


San José Church

The San Jose Church is located in Old San Juan within the historic colonial section of the capital of Puerto Rico is one of the first significant works of architecture on the island. The church is one of the earliest surviving examples of 16th-century Spanish Gothic Architecture in the Western Hemisphere.

La Rogativa

It is a group of catholic statues holding crosses and torches. There are three women and an elderly priest. It is important because it honors the women and bishop who decided to do a procession in the night of February 17, 1797 for the Freedom of San Juan from the invasion British Invasion of Ralph Albercromby, whose forces outnumbered the Puerto Rican forces, and they were scared away because he thought that the torches of the procession were Spanish reinforcements.

Raíces Fountain

It is a fountain with bronze statues and it is near the Paseo del Morro. The statue is of a person riding a horse in the front and other dancing around the center and in the center there is a woman standing on a rock. It was built in May 1992 by the architect Miguel Carlos. Its importance is that the statues represent Puerto Rico’s mixed African, Spanish, and Taíno/American Indian heritage.

La Puerta de San Juan

La Puerta de San Juan is the end of “El paseo de La Princesa” and when the city of San Juan was turned into a fortress, five walls were built into them. The walls were closed in order to protect themselves from attacks by land or sea. To this day only one stands and that one is La Puerta de San Juan where governors and religious authorities passed through. The scripture on top of the door is from the Benedictus, a hymm found in the Gospel of Luke from the New Testament. The scripture says “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”



Princesa Prison

Plaza San José is host of the La Iglesia San José which was made in the honor of Saint Thomas Aquinas. This is the second oldest church in the New World. In the middle of this plaza there is a bronze statue of Juan Ponce de León and this statue was made in New York in 1882 out of melted cannons. Local bars, restaurants, and a couple of museums surround the plaza.

Polvorín Santa Elena

Polvorín Santa Elena is cultural feature in the municipality of San Juan. It is located within the San Juan Antiguo barrio and it was constructed by Juan Francisco Mestre in 1787. In it they kept the ammunition of El Morro.

Plaza del Quinto Centenario

Plaza Del Quinto Centenario is recognized for its great views over El Morro and the ocean. It was built in 1992 and they say its cost was about $10 million. It was built to honor the 500th Anniversary of Columbus’ first voyage to the Americas. Many people identify the plaza with “El Tótem Telúrico" which was made by Jaime Suarez, a Puerto Rican artist. The clay totem pole signifies the origin of the people of the Americas.

Plaza San José

Plaza San José is host of the La Iglesia San José which was made in the honor of Saint Thomas Aquinas. This is the second oldest church in the New World. In the middle of this plaza there is a bronze statue of Juan Ponce de León and this statue was made in New York in 1882 out of melted cannons. Local bars, restaurants, and a couple of museums surround the plaza.


Plaza de Las Monjas

Plaza da las Monjas, which is also recognized as Plaza de la Catedral, is located in the Historic District of Old San Juan. It has been in this region since 1521 and is said to be one of the oldest places in Old San Juan. 

 

Plaza Dársena

Plaza Dársena is found to west of the Marina and it was established in 1937. It is commonly known for its permanent crafts market which are usually shown to the audience on weekends. Plaza Dársena is home to a statue of Henry the Navigator, Prince of Portugal.

Plaza Arturo Somohano

Arturo Somohano who was a musical composer and directed the San Juan Symphony Orchestra. He was born in San Juan and as a child always showed a talent for music. He joined the army during WW2 and gave concerts in different bases. His famous “Songs of the Americas” became an anthem for the army. After his death this plaza was given his name.

Plaza de Colón

Christopher Columbus has several monuments around Old San Juan and this monument together with the fountain is one of them. After the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s discovery of the island the plaza was given this monument and because of it the plaza, St. James Square, was now given the name Plaza de Colón.


Parque de las Palomas

It is a small park that offers a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of Old San Juan and provides the pigeons of the area a great place to find shelter and food.

Parque de Armas

Plaza de Armas is one of the main squares in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. It is located on San José Street in Old San Juan, and was designed to serve as the original main square for the city.


Parque Luiz Muñoz Rivera

El Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera is a recreational public space located in Puerta de Tierra in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The park was named in honor of Puerto Rico statesman Luis Muñoz Rivera.

Pablo Casals Museum

It is an orange, white, and green museum named after Pablo Casal, a famous Spanish cellist. It is a museum of Pablo Casals belongings, music, and photographs. It is important because it honor the memory of Pablo Casal and his music.

 

Museo Felisa Rincón de Gautier

It is a pink and white museum of Doña Felisa, our first female mayor of San jUan. She was part of the movement for womens’ rights, preschool educational daycare programs, establishing the first public legal and medical aid center for the poor, and ambassador of Goodwill countries in Latin America.  It is important because it honor the memory of a great and kind woman who made many reforms to help people. 


Museo del Niño

It is a museum consisted of three floors in San Juan in Calle de Cristo for kids. It is important because it allows children to play and learn new things. 




Monumento a Juan de Amezquita

Juan de Amezquita was an important captain who defended Puerto Rico from the invasion by the Dutch in 1625. The government dedicated his this monument in 1925 because it was the 300th anniversary of the Dutch defeat. It is important because Juan de Amezquita left an important legacy in Puerto Rico.


La Mallorquina

La Mallorquina is a restaurant in and its foods are Puerto Rican/Spanish. It has been opened since 1848 in the same place. It is called La Mallorquina because the original owners were from Spain and it is translated to “The Woman from Mallorca.” Luis Muñoz Marín, the first president of the island, often visited the restaurant and recommended it to everyone.