The 500 years of San Juan, Puerto Rico route
San Juan’s 500th anniversary celebrations continue until June 2022. You can explore the most emblematic spots of its historic district in a two-and-a-half-hour tour, one of many free activities being offered to commemorate the founding of the Puerto Rican capital. Discover the tour’s seven key sites with our gallery.
Travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico from 17,000 Avios each way.
Images by James Rajotte
The former Plaza Mayor in San Juan was designed in colonial times as the city’s main square, and is where the tour begins. Today, it’s known as Plaza de Armas.
The Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist is one of the country’s largest religious buildings, its oldest church and the second oldest church in the Americas.
La Rogativa is a statue presiding over this square. It commemorates a 1797 religious procession led by women aimed at – according to legend – helping the Spanish army to defend the city from attacks by the British.
It took more than 250 years (from the 16th to the 18th centuries) to build the El Morro citadel, whose original purpose was to protect the city from maritime attacks. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1983.
The Casa Blanca Museum, which dates back to the early 16th century, was the first fortification in San Juan and the residence of Juan Ponce de León, the first governor of Puerto Rico.
Visitors can enjoy the recently revealed restoration of the San José Church – which took 20 years. Built in 1532, it’s not only a religious treasure but an architectural one.
The Dominicans, the first religious order to settle on the island, founded the Convento de Santo Tomás de Aquino in 1523.
The former Plaza Mayor in San Juan was designed in colonial times as the city’s main square, and is where the tour begins. Today, it’s known as Plaza de Armas.
