Capilla del Santo Cristo de la Salud (Chapel of Christ the Savior) Capilla del Santo Cristo de la Salud was built in 1753-1780 on top of the city walls. The placard near the chapel reads, “Legend traces its origin to a miraculous happening at the site.” A little bit of research revealed a few different stories, but generally, the story goes that in the 1750’s, there was a horse race. A young rider named Baltazar Montañez was unable to stop his horse, and rode off the cliff in the area where the chapel stands. Legend goes that the Secretary of the Government, Don Tomás Mateo Prats, or the young man…
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The streets of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, are known for the colorful buildings and colonial architecture, but it is also filled with historic sites, monuments, and statues, marking contributions to the city’s rich history. Here are just a few of the moments in history along a short walk around the city. Plaza Colón Plaza Colón marks the entrance to the walled city of Old San Juan, where the Santiago Gate once stood. Looking uphill to the northeast, you will see Castillo san Cristóbal, part of the National Parks Service San Juan Historic Site. At the center of Plaza Colon is a monument to Cristóbal Colón, Christopher Columbus to us…
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As part of this year’s North American Travel Journalists Conference in Puerto Rico, we were guests at a food tour of Old San Juan by Spoon, Authentic Culinary Experiences and Food Tours. Spoon offers a variety of tours, from cocktail tours around Old San Juan to cooking classes in private homes. Our guide, Lorna, walked with us around the streets of San Juan, pointing out historic places and other points of interest, as we set out to eat and drink our way around the city. Stop #1: Mofongo at Deaverdura The first of our three stops was Deaverdura, located at 200 Sol Street. It was hard not to be…
