Fig trees, delicate fountains, sidewalks bordered by pink marble, gardens around every corner – Ponce Puerto Rico is definitely a little different from the rest of the island. The second largest city is like a step back into the 19th century, where horse-drawn carriages and rickety trolleys rumble through the city streets. Ponce vacations are where sweet tropical air mixes with a stylized view of the past - Ponce retains a small town atmosphere despite its ever-growing population.
Everywhere you look, there’s some colonial building vying for your attention. Covered with cathedrals and neoclassical houses, they blend seamlessly with the rest of the city, many structures which are also unbeatable examples of modern architecture. The cathedrals are usually the first to catch your eye. The Our Lady of Guadeloupe cathedral sprouts up amongst rows of wooden-slat houses and wrought iron balconies. Mass is at 6 am, if you are an early riser, and is a great way to see the reverent side of Ponce Puerto Rico. Delving further into Ponce travel destinations will lead you to the Parque de Bombas. In 1882, the building was constructed for an expo, then converted into a firehouse, before being converted again into a museum celebrating the feats of the Ponce firemen.
Another trip into the past is offered at the Ponce History
Museum. Ponce vacations are not complete without a little
historical context, and there are plenty of things to
see here, as the city has long been one of the island’s
cultural epicenters. If you are still on a museum kick,
the Ponce Museum of Art is also here – and another
shining example of wondrous architecture in the city.
Designed by the same architect that did New
York’s Museum
of Modern Art, the Ponce Museum of Art is no less
spectacular (albeit, on a smaller scale), and features
seven interconnected hexagons, curved staircases and striking
glass cupolas. Contemporary Puerto Rican artists intermix
with collections from the past, as both the Baroque and
Renaissance era are well represented here.
Ponce travel usually involves a trip up Vigia Hill to
the Castillo Serralles. This Spanish Revivial mansion
was once the home of the Don Q rum distillery –
now it has been re-equipped with antiques and harks back
to the days when sugar barons ran the island. Its scenic
gardens are the real selling point here, where you’ll
find a 100 foot tall cross that, conveniently, has a glass
elevator that goes to the top. Here you’ll get one
of the best views in the entire Caribbean.
Along the same lines, you’ll find the Hacienda Buena
Vista, which is also a restored plantation, and one of
Ponce’s major travel destinations.
Ponce Puerto Rico is also lucky enough to have one of the most important archaeological sites in the Caribbean, burial grounds used from 300-700 AD, along with plenty of other ruins dating back to the Pre-Taino period.
Though not outfitted with the same array of perfect
beaches as many Puerto Rican cities, Ponce vacations
have a lot to offer those looking for culture and history,
so visitors seeking out this city on the southern shore
will not be disappointed.
