• placement: superzone
  • path: destinations/pois/hero
  • containerId: gpt-ad-869305555947
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "points-of-interest/catedral-de-san-juan-bautista/373325",
      "destination": "San-Juan",
      "title": "san-juan",
      "type": "City",
      "city": "San-Juan",
      "continent": "Caribbean",
      "country": "Puerto-Rico",
      "refresh": 30,
      "refresh_limit": 3
    }

Catedral de San Juan Bautista

White-washed facade of Cathedral de San Juan.

Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

While San Juan's cathedral is smaller and less flamboyant than many Spanish churches, it retains a simple elegance. The first church on this site was founded in 1521 and destroyed by a hurricane eight years later. They began constructing its replacement in 1540 and it slowly evolved into today's neoclassical-inspired monument. Look out for the marble tomb of Ponce de León and the mummified body of religious martyr St Pio.

You can get quite a show here on Saturday afternoons when the limos roll up and bridal parties take over the front steps. The main entrance to the cathedral faces Plazuela Las Monjas, a beautiful shaded small park complete with antique benches and gnarly trees. On Sundays and holy days, you'll see worshippers in all their finery.

  • placement: superzone
  • path: destinations/pois/middle
  • containerId: gpt-ad-927975713174
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "points-of-interest/catedral-de-san-juan-bautista/373325",
      "destination": "San-Juan",
      "title": "san-juan",
      "type": "City",
      "city": "San-Juan",
      "continent": "Caribbean",
      "country": "Puerto-Rico",
      "refresh": 30,
      "refresh_limit": 3
    }

Must-see attractions

  • placement: superzone
  • path: destinations/pois/superzone
  • containerId: gpt-ad-787605922988
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "points-of-interest/catedral-de-san-juan-bautista/373325",
      "destination": "San-Juan",
      "title": "san-juan",
      "type": "City",
      "city": "San-Juan",
      "continent": "Caribbean",
      "country": "Puerto-Rico",
      "refresh": 30,
      "refresh_limit": 3
    }