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San Juan

The exploration of Old San Juan

When you have a city that has more than 400 years is a shame not to revisit the rich history and grandeur its colorful past. San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital offers a generous taste of the Old World, cobblestone streets to its impressive architecture.

Overwhelming Spanish influence seen in San Juan can be traced back to 1521 when it was established as a settlement of the empire Spanish. Over the centuries, the city has seen ships of dominance and military commercialism home and starting on its shores, has survived the attacks troops British in the late 1500s, has experienced the bombing war machines of the United States during the Spanish-American War, and became the industrialized metropolis it is today.

The city of San Juan has three main districts: Old San Juan, beach and resort area, and communities surrounding. The majority of ancient monuments and landmarks, however, focused on the neighborhood of Old San Juan. Even the streets of Old San Juan about the time Spanish colonial. They are cobbled a blue stone cast from furnace slag called Adoquin. These stones were brought to San Juan from ships Spanish. Over the years, moisture and exposure to the elements has its own color Adoquin.

Old San Juan is home to many squares, parks, museums, monuments and historic buildings that take a whole day or two walking tour to explore. Plaza de Armas (Armas Square) in San Jose is the central street of Old San Juan. It features four statues, which are all more than a hundred years, representing the four seasons. He also served as a principal place Meeting people and continues to be an interesting place for visitors.

Plaza de San Jose is another popular meeting place in Old San Juan. Its central monument is the statue of Juan Ponce de Leon, first governor of Puerto Rico. The statue was made from British cannons were captured during the British attacks in the 18th century. Another place with an important reference point is the Plaza del Quinto Centenario (Quincentennial Square). Open 1992 as part of the 500th anniversary of Columbus' monumental exploration of the New World, highlights the role of a 40-foot sculpture that represents the roots of earth and clay in American history. Sculpture in black granite and ceramics, is a creation of the master Puerto Rican artist Jaime Suarez.

A visit to Old San Juan would not be complete without a visit great strengths of the city. Built in the 17 16 and centuries, these fortresses were taken decades but have been vital in strengthening the city defenses. El Morro is distinguished among all the forts of San Juan. It is the largest fortification throughout the Caribbean and has survived many attacks. The fort fell only once, during a ground assault by British forces in 1598. El Morro Building a wonder in itself, is responsible for tunnels, dungeons, barracks, and ramps, but the most prominent parts of this fortress are the sentinel circular boxes called Garita. El Morro has been declared a national historic site by the National Park Service.

In addition to El Morro is Castillo de San Cristóbal, another brilliantly constructed fortress towering 150 meters and occupying an area of 27 acres. Recognized as one of the strongest defenses and in the region, Fort San Cristobal is composed of five independent structures that are connected by moat and tunnel. The fort is also a National Historic Site and a World Heritage site.

A visit to Old San Juan is an activity that visitors to Puerto Rico not to be missed. Seeing these sites not only provide a feast for the eyes, but a glimpse into the history and culture of this Caribbean archipelago.

About the Author

Kristien Wilkinson is an online writer and contributor to http://www.sanjuan.com

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