San Juan
is the capital city of Puerto Rico. It has a population of about 1.4 million people making it a third of the entire island. It is the center of political and economical life in Puerto Rico. This being the case, San Juan is a great cruise ship destination. The reason behind this is that the location has a lot of attractions to offer visitors. If you happen to have it as one of your cruise destinations, I bet you would be happy to have an idea of some of the attractions that you can visit in the area. The following is a simple description of the four leading sites to visit in San Juan.
Visit El Morro
El Morro is the largest fort in the Caribbean. It was constructed in 1539. In 1949, it became a National Historic Site. Many of the present walls were however added in 1760s and 1780s. El Morro, otherwise known as Fuerte San Felipe del Morro, is a very interesting attraction any visitor would like to have a look at. Positioned at 140 feet above sea level and surrounded by an 18 feet thick wall, it is one of the most breathtaking sites you can see in San Juan. It has tunnels, a maze of ramps, dungeons, barracks and outposts all of which are accessible to visitors. Talking a walk through this area can be quite exhilarating to any visitor.
El Capitolo is another site that you will find interesting when you visit San Juan. In 1925, Puerto Rico was given the Capitol building by USA. It was built by a Puerto Rican architect, Rafael Carmoega, and is modeled on the Capitol building in Washington, USA. Though this is the case, some people feel it has more of a Romanesque look. One of the interesting things to be viewed in this building is the Puerto Rican Commonwealth constitution. It is located off the expressway in one of Puerto Rico’s roughest neighborhoods.
Meetings in Puerto Rico
The Condado Convention Center is one of the largest in the Caribbean. It is a modern facility that holds up to 10,000 people. The Convention Center features various activities that include festivals and exhibitions. It boasts a total space of about 580,000 square feet and is located at a site that was a US Coast Guard and Naval Base in the past. It will include restaurants, theaters, shopping centers and many more. Making a visit to the center can help you have a view of the future of San Juan.
Last but not least, the Fortlaeza is a site that was completed in 1540. Its main use was defense against foreign invaders including the Carib Indians. It was occupied twice by invaders in 1598 and 1625. In the last occupation, fire damaged the Fortaleza building. Eventually, it became the residence of governors with the current governor residing in it. To view it, one would need to be part of a special tour. San Juan is mainly renowned for its historical sites which you can visit when you have the city as one of your cruise destinations.
