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 northerners. The statue was erected in 1893 to mark 400 years since the arrival of Columbus to the island. The plaza is a popular meeting place where you can be sure to find a taxi to take you to your next destination.
Fuente Raices
Located along the lovely Paiso de la Princesa, Fuente Raices, or Raices Fountain, is a lovely spot for a break while exploring the southern end of Old San Juan. The Raices Fountain was erected in Old San Juan in 1992, marking 500 years since the arrival of Columbus to Puerto Rico. The fountain was designed by Miguel Carlo, with sculptures by artist Luis Sanguino, and pays tribute to the African, Spanish and Taino heritage of the island.
Plaza de Armas and Fuente de las Cuatro Estaciones
In Spanish colonial times, Plaza de Armas was the city’s main square, and is home to the City Hall. At the center of the square is a circular fountain, Fuente de las Cuatro Estaciones, “The Four Seasons,” with a figure commemorating each of the seasons.
Juan Ponce de Leon
Juan Ponce de Leon was the first governor of Puerto Rico under Spanish rule. The statute was toppled in January 2022 in protest of a visit by Spain’s King Felipe VI to commemorate 500 years of the city’s founding. A local group, Boriken Libertarian Forces has claimed responsibility remarking, “Faced with the visit of the King of Spain Felipe VI, to Puerto Rico and the escalation of ‘gringo’ invaders taking over our lands, we want to send a clear message: neither kings nor ‘gringo’ invaders.” The statue was restored and can be found in the Plaza de San Jose, near the Iglesia de San José, the historic church dating back to 1532.
Tótem Telúrico
Standing 12 meters tall in the Plaza del Quinto Centenario you will find the Tótem Telúrico. The sculpture was designed by Puerto Rican ceramics artist, Jaime Suarez, as part of the 5th centennial of the arrival of the Spanish on the island. The concrete-reinforced pillar is covered in ceramic relief, including fragments of pre-Columbian clay vases, as a tribute to the indigenous cultures of the island. In commemorating the statute, Suarez remarked, “A ceramic column-totem rises like a monument to the clay and earth of the Americas, which in its vowels and in fragments holds the secrets of who we are. Like Trajan’s Column, it tells us its story.”
Eugenio María de Hostos
In Plaza de los Ninos, a small square to the south of El Morro, you will find a monument in tribute to Eugenio María de Hostos (1839 – 1903), an educator with contributions throughout Latin America. He is known for his commitment to education, and was ahead of his time in advocating for college education of women. He opposed slavery and sought to liberalize Spain’s colonial rule of Cuba and Puerto Rico.
Ballaja
Ballajá is a work by Spanish sculptor, Victor Ochoa Sierra, located in the Plaza del Cuartel de Ballajá. The plaza is adjacent to the old barracks area where Spanish troops were stationed in the late 1800s, directly south of El Morro. The Ballajá sculpture was installed in 1992 as part of the 5th centennial. The sculpture depicts three figures intertwined, which has been interpreted to symbolize the struggle between the old and new generations of Puerto Rico.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to statutes, fountains, and public art you can discover walking the streets of Old San Juan.
More posts from our trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico can be found here. Next up, we explore churches around Old San Juan!