Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a historic district, subject to guidelines for the preservation and restoration of its buildings. The Municipality of San Juan and the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture strive to preserve the authenticity and appearance of the district, from the architectural details to the color of the exterior paint on buildings. Join us for a tour of the unique details and colors of Old San Juan.
When a city is more than 500 years old, you see architectural influences from different periods and from all over the world. Take a close look at the rooflines, balconies, alcoves, moldings, doors, windows, and ironwork. For a deep dive into the historical styles and features, the National Park Service issued this informative survey of the district, describing the design, construction, and modification of buildings in the district.
The colorful paint schemes we see today were a 20th Century creation. Originally, the colors were natural hues from organic products used to preserve the masonry components of the structures. Today, we see pastel or brightly-colored buildings, generally with contrasting white trim. Presently, buildings in Old San Juan must have a paint color distinct from neighboring properties to keep the colorful look for which Old San Juan is famous.
Distinctive to Old San Juan are the cobblestone streets with a blue hue. The pavers, or “adoquines” are constructed with waste product, “slag,” from iron production, giving them their unique appearance.
Join us for the rainbow of colors and architectural styles seen while strolling through Old San Juan.
We enjoyed our short time in Old San Juan. For more posts from our trip to Puerto Rico, read more here.