Your stay at any of the San Juan condo rentals will be near many historical sites. Being that the city of San Juan is the second oldest European-founded city in the Americas, it has a plethora of historical sites to see. The city was founded in 1521 and has been named "The Walled City." The city itself is divided into three main districts: old San Juan, the Beach and Resort area and the outside communities. The best sites of historical nature can be found in the area known as Old San Juan, which is easily accessible from your San Juan rental.
Old San Juan
The original city dates back to the 1500s. In the 1900s the city expanded to include many of the outlying communities. This is when the city limits expanded beyond the walls of the old town. The historic district is where you will find hundreds of buildings that have been restored from more than 500 years ago. The area is beautifully lined with cobblestone streets and still keeps the historic atmosphere with shops and specialty markets. There are several town squares within the walls of the district that feature statues of some of the predominant figures of San Juan's history.
Specific Buildings
One of the main attractions for visitors to San Juan is the Alcaldia (city hall). Originally built in the 1700s, the city hall is a tourist attraction in and of itself, and also offers useful information about the city in the tourist center. Make time to visit the Cathedral del San Juan. The Cathedral is the second oldest in the Western Hemisphere and was destroyed several times by hurricanes. The Cathedral as seen today was last restored in 1917. A couple of other notable stops will be the Casino of Puerto Rico, which was constructed before World War I, and Teatro Tapia (Tapia Theatre), which was built in 1832. The theatre has gone through periods of renovation as recently as the 1980s, and is still in use to showcase theatre productions and musical ensembles.
The Forts
The island of Puerto Rico, and more specifically the city of San Juan, has many forts that were constructed to protect it from invaders. The forts were all constructed several hundred years ago, and although beaten by severe storms and hurricanes, they've stood the test of time. The most notable fort in the San Juan area is also the oldest. El Morro was constructed in the mid-1500s and is monstrous in size and construction. It is comprised of thick walls, 6 stories, tunnels and dungeons. The fort was named a National Historic Site and encompasses an area of more than 70 acres. Other notable forts to visit are Castillo de San Cristobal, Fuerte San Geronimo and the Santa Elena Battery.
The city of San Juan offers dozens of museums in addition to the many historic landmarks mentioned above. Your time will be filled to capacity with sightseeing. To find your most suitablecondo rental, visit Vamoose.com. You can search for a rental in San Juan based on location, price and amenities offered.