For many centuries the city of old san juan stood as a military stronghold that defended attacks from pirates and other European countries. This amazing historical town today stands on a tiny inlet overlooking the adorned colorful buildings. Old town is a mix of colorful and amazing structures,with its pure elegance that sets apart this magical place from any other Caribbean island. The buildings interior with decorative Spanish tiles and curvy staircases serves to complement every feature of spanish colonial style.
Old town has served as the perfect and most suited destination for it's rich blend Puerto-Rican food. This five century old colonial city represents a mirror that reflex's cities such as Barcelona and Cartagena. It unleashes a bond that unites us all in a rich culture that feeds on all aspects of traditions but more important, a language that embodies a dialect with a unique blend of African and Taino influences.
And last, La plaza Colon, a statue rising forty-feet high, which sits alongside the sorrounded square. The city so well preserved on a history that stems beyond than just the rising statue of Cristobal Columbus.
The invigorating story of a man, the navigator fron genoa italy, who sailed throught the uncharted waters of the atlantic centuries ago becoming the first European to discover the new continent. The three famous caravels shown above, La Nina, La pinta, La Santa Maria. It was on November 19th, 1493, on the second voyager when Christobal Columbus lrrived on the island and named it San Juan Bautista.
La plaza Santiago once had stood a statue of Conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon, but in 1893 it had been replaced by Christobal colon. Today Juan Ponce de Leon sculpture, who once had governed the island of Puerto Rico, today is observed at the very high peak of the hilltop across Plaza San Jose. During Colonial time, the gate of Santiago allowed access for merchants and civilians becoming the only main entrance to access the city by land.
In Spanish It was nicknamed " Puerta de Tierra" and after ensuing years of military conflicts and battle to defend the San Juan city, in 1897 the time had come. The desicion was made to finally demolish the Santiago gate and other important defenses that played out a vital role to a long-lasting history stemming from its early founded settlement in 1521.
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