Tag: Old San Juan

Favorite Wedding Venues in Puerto Rico

boricua01
Wedding at La Concha Resort San Juan Puerto Rico

Favorite Wedding Venues in Puerto Rico Puerto Rico is a stunning Caribbean island, with neighbors the Dominican Republic and the United States Virgin Island on its east and west respectively. For couples looking for their ultimate tropical paradise, destination wedding, the island of Puerto Rico is it. A destination wedding is becoming quite popular with couples looking for a unique way to celebrate their nuptials. In some ways, you can limit the stress, strain and heartache that comes with planning a wedding on your home turf, and also limit the…

Read More

The Port of San Juan and San Antonio Canal – A Gateway to the Caribbean

boricua01
The Port of San Juan and San Antonio Canal

The Port of San Juan and San Antonio Canal – A Gateway to the Caribbean ‘Discovered’ by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage in 1493, the dazzling archipelago consisting of a large ‘main’ island now known as Puerto Rico and surrounded by smaller islands stands at the head of a curving chain of Caribbean islands that sweeps south-eastwards down to Trinidad and Tobago off the coast of Venezuela. This idyllic location undoubtedly affords Puerto Rico – and particularly its chief port and capital city San Juan – the right to…

Read More

Great Architecture in Puerto Rico

boricua01
Old San Juan Balcones

Strolling down the streets of old San Juan, Puerto Rico, you are transported back to the time of the conquistadors and the architecture of Andalusia in southern Spain. San Juan was Spain’s major center of commerce and military power in the Caribbean for almost four centuries.  It was the last safe port for the galleons headed back to Spain laden with gold, and the main re-supply port of ships entering from Europe. The city’s military heritage is displayed in several architectural treasures. The El Morro Fortress—The El Morro stands guard…

Read More

Exploring Old San Juan

boricua01

When you’ve got a city that’s over 400 years old, it’s a shame not to revisit the rich history and grandeur of its colorful past. San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, offers a generous taste of the Old World, from its cobbled streets to its impressive architecture. The overwhelming Spanish influence seen in San Juan can be traced back to 1521, when it was established as a settlement of the Spanish empire. Over centuries, the city has seen ships of mercantilism and military dominance docking and departing on its…

Read More

El Morro the Ultimate Fortress

boricua01

This massive fortification “Castillo de San Felipe Del Morro” means “Castle of St. Philip of the Headland.” Named for the patron Saint of Spain’s King Philip 11. It is the oldest of two great forts that anchored the sea and landward defenses of San Juan. The second fort San Cristobal which lies just southeast of here was the primary defense from land. The fort construction began in 1539 with the building of a round tower made of stone and resembling the chess piece known as a “rook”. El Morro slowly…

Read More