Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña

It's a governmental institute that is responsible to establish political culture. The institution was created in 1995 due to the 89 law. It is located next to the Plaza del Quinto Centenerio.

Escalinata las monjas

It is located close to El Convento and El Museo del Niño. Now, there are apartments there that you can rent or buy an apartment. They are located in a great place in San Juan and I strongly recommend renting one and then visiting a lot of tours around San Juan and getting the San Juan vibes.

Cuartel de Ballajá

It was built in 1864 and it was for the Spanish troops and their families. We recommend going there because there are always really interesting activities going on there.

Cuerpo de Guardia del Bastión de Santa Elena

It was built in 1787 and it was used for soldiers to store their weapons and also for housing. When we went there, it was reconstructing. We recommend you to go there because after the reconstruction it will be beautiful.

Antiguo Manicomio Insular

        Due to the poor hygiene, living conditions, and overcrowding in the Casa de Beneficencia, they had to build this hospital for the mentally ill. The construction started in 1861 and in 1863, the construction continued and the building was then used to shelter soldiers who had been wounded in the Dominican War of Restoration. Then, the construction continued and was finished in 1873.

Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Puerto Rico y del Caribe

The construction ended in 1932, it served as a private institution. In the year 1972, the building was closed. This is a great place to visit when you come to San Juan because it is a big part of Puerto Rico's history.

La Galería Nacional

It houses the largest collection of Puerto Rican paintings from the 18th century. It is located next to the Plaza del Quinto Cenetenario.

Escuela de Artes Plasticas

It was originally founded in 1966. The school offered many degrees and they are: fashion design, industrial design, painting, sculpting, art education, graphic arts, photography, and design.

Albizu y los pitirres

       Albizu y los pitirres is a beautiful work of art located in the Calle San Sebastián to honor Pedro Albizu Campos and to remember him.

Liga de Arte

        Currently, the Liga de Arte offers drawing classes for children. It is also considered one of the many historic places in Puerto Rico.

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Casino de Puerto Rico

        Located at Avenida Ponce de Leon in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is beautiful structure with a French and a European style. It is so beautiful that people even make weddings there.

El Bastión de San Fernando

       El Bastión de San Fernando is to the left of El Morro. Back in the day, it was used to attack upcoming enemies.

End of the royal trail where ocean becomes the bay

This is where you can rest after a long walk but it is a nice walk because you can chat with people and the view at the end will be worth it. And there is a little bench and water fountain but the water was hot so don’t drink it but it is a beautiful place to visit.

Museo Felisa Rincón de Gautier

This 300 year old building was the official residence of the first woman to be elected mayor in San Juan. She was the mayor for about 22 years and received awards for it.

 

Museo del Niño

The museum was opened to the public in 1993. And some of its objectives are to show to boys and girls in Puerto Rico the old culture in Puerto Rico can offer and to provide to the families to education that they can offer to the kids.

 

Monumento a Juan de Amezquita

The monument was built in 1925 in honor of the 300^th anniversary of the victory on the Dutch attack. Juan de Amezquita was Captain of the militia of Puerto Rico and he led us to victory against a Dutch attack

 

La Mallorquina

It was the oldest restaurant that was still operating in Puerto Rico and the restaurant opened in 1848, also it was famous for hosting local and also international personalities for about eight decades.

 

La Rogativa

It is also known as The Plaza of Religious Procession. And it was built in in honor of a certain attack the people save the city and this took place in the year 1797. Some people say that this statue should be in your list of best places to go in San Juan.

 

Plaza del Quinto Cenentario

It is an amazing architectural landmark and it has an astonishing view over El Morro and the ocean. In 1992 they built this Totem Telurico in honor of Columbus first voyage to the Americas, and it is about 40 feet high.

 

Raíces Fountain

It is said that it was finished being built in May 1992, and it was built to celebrate The New Worlds 500^th anniversary. It is also considered to be one of the most romantic spots in Old San Juan, especially when the sun is setting down.

La Puerta de San Juan

It is said to be dated in 1630’s, also it marks the end of el Paseo de la Princesa and also is one of the three that are still left standing. When the Spanish ships were anchored in the cove just off the ramparts they entered through the tall red portal to leave supplies and also colonist.   

Princesa Prison

The prison was built in 1837 and it has the name of the trail that passes along, and it can hold up to 240 prisoners. It stopped being in prison in about 1965, but now it is an art museum and the tourism office of Puerto Rico.
 

Polvorin Santa Elena

It is monument that is close to el Morro and it’s a cultural place to be in and you can also go and look around the place. It is also very beautiful place to be in San Juan because you can enjoy the peace and quite. 

Tito Curet Statue

Tito Curet Alonso was a famous Puerto Rican salsa composer with more than 2,000 salsa songs. He studied here in the University of Puerto Rico where he studied sociology and journalism. Is salsa hits were such a hit because he wrote about the social romantic themes which talked about how hard was the life of the Puerto Ricans.

 

Teatro Tapia

The theatre was named after the famous Puerto Rican poet and play writer Alejandro Tapia y Rivera, and was built in 1832, also its located close to the Plaza de Colón. There are many performance there in the Spanish language, some performances are: dance, ballets, play and operas.   

San Juan City Hall

The City Hall was built in somewhat stages through 1604-1789, and it is in the heart of Old San Juan, also it is next to Plaza de Armas and to the Department of State. It has a beautiful inner courtyard and has some art exhibits every now and then.

San Juan Cathedral

The Cathedral was built mostly to substitute the one that was originally there and it was built in 1540 and it is said that it’s the second oldest Cathedral in the Western Hemisphere. It also has some kind of Gothic style of architecture and also neo-classical as well. And the Cathedral was named in honor of the first patron saint in Puerto Rico Saint John the Baptist.

  

San José Church

The Church was constructed in 1530’s by friars, and also it’s the oldest structure in the city. An interesting fact is that it is the only building in Puerto Rico to be constructing in some kind of weird Gothic style.

 

Plaza Arturo Somohano

He was a musical composer and also a director for the San Juan Symphony Orchestra, now which is named after him. And in his honor the Conservatory Music of Puerto Rico annually awards its most outstanding student with the medal of Arturo Somohano for excellence, and also they named a school and plaza after him.

Plaza de Armas

It was founded in 1521 and was named the central plaza of the city, there the Spanish soldiers practiced military exercises. The governor at that time asked that they remodel the plaza to make more open to the public, so they made a fountain  with a statue at each corner and each statue symbolized something one meant Industry, another meant Commerce, another meant Agriculture and the last one meant Navigation.

 

Parque de las Palomas

It was originally built in the 1700 as a defensive wall and was a placing area for the canons placements. And the park is looking at “el Paseo de la Princesa”, and the “Capilla de Cristo” its right next to the park. And it’s called what is called because it has an abundance of pigeons.

 

Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera

It is classified as the most historic parks out of all the parks administrated by “La Compañia de Parques Nacionales” and it occupies about 27 acres. Before it was turned into a park it was the third line of defense in Puerto Rico. And there you can find a statue of Luis Muñoz Rivera in honor for the services he gave to Puerto Rico.

 

Pablo Casals Museum

It is located in San Jose Plaza net to the San Jose Church, and in the museum there is still part of Pablo Casal in there because his music is still there. Many people go there to experience the beautiful music he made, and also original manuscripts of Casals music, his cello and piano are on display in the main hall.