It is one of the oldest remaining monuments in San Juan. Juan Ponce de Leon, the first governor of Puerto Rico, was originally buried in the church until he was moved in 1836 to the cathedral.Īs you stroll down Cristo, you will see a glimpse of Casa Blanca, the White House that was the home built by the Ponce de Leon family in 1521. The church took over 200 years to be finished, starting in 1532.

Next, you will view the San Jose Church, one of the earliest surviving examples of 16th-century Spanish Gothic architecture in the Western Hemisphere. Today, it houses several educational and cultural organizations including a museum. You will walk to the Ballaja Barracks, built by the Spanish militia as housing in 1864 it also saw use in the Spanish-American War and as a hospital in World War II. From the large lawn in front of the fort, your guide will tell of the building of the fort beginning in 1539, and parts of its interesting history up through when it became a World Heritage Site. You will also see the San Juan Gate, built in 1520 to guard the city from the harbor, as you make your way to Castillo San Felipe del Morro (El Morro). From outside, your guide will tell you the history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site that spans more than 450 years. Departing from the harbor area in Old San Juan, your local PRIVATE guide will take you on a walking tour west along the Paseo de la Princesa (Princess Promenade), to the La Fortaleza, which is currently the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico.

Old san juan walking tour map pdf