Tag: Puerto Rico

Old San Juan cemetery: the white graveyard overlooking the ocean that is accessed through a tunnel.

Robin

According locals, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, even a cemetery is extraordinary. And, apparently, this is one of the most beautiful in the world. Nestled on a hill in front of the blue Atlantic waters, and framed by the city walls, this beautiful cemetery is located amid two of the island’s busiest attractions, the El Morro fort and Castillo San Cristóbal. It lies close to the infamous neighborhood of La Perla, and is reached by way of a tunnel leading to the main gate. The gravestones have been placed very…

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El Cañuelo: the small fort that played a huge role defending Puerto Rico’s capital city

Robin

Puerto Rico is well known for its well-preserved Spanish fortifications in Old San Juan, such as El Morro, the most visited tourist attraction on the island. However, while you exploring the famous fort’s walls and enjoying the amazing view of the San Juan Bay, you may notice something else, a smaller and seemingly less impressive looking fort. Actually, it was El Morro’s most important ally in times of conflict. Fortín San Juan de la Cruz, known locally simply as El Cañuelo, was built on the west side of San Juan…

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Ruins of Lazaretto de Isla de Cabras: the crumbling remnants of a 19th-century quarantine hospital that hint at the touristy island’s darker past.

Robin

Isla de Cabras (traslates as Goat’s island) in the town of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, is known today for its beaches, spectacular views of Old San Juan, and other recreational activities, including swimming and fishing. However, atop a hill overlooking the coast, are some ruins that are seemingly out of place. Their past reveals that the island wasn’t always a beautiful tourist destination…. During the early 19th century, the island served as an inspection port for ships coming from Europe, when the threat of cholera was imminent. Thus, as a…

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