Discover Ponce | Ciudad Senorial
Ponce has a population of about 194,636 people and is the second largest city in Puerto Rico. Ponce is also known as "Ciudad Senorial" because of its many beautiful neoclassical buildings and frontage.
Millions of dollars have been spent on preserving the colonial core of Ponce. Ponce has some beautiful plazas, churches, magnificent fountains, highly decorated homes and a very unique fire station. Ponce is considered to be a national treasure. If culture and history is what you are after then Ponce is definitely the place to go to. There are some really amazing historical cultural places situated in Ponce. The world class Ponce Museum of art has unbelievable architecture, with seven interconnected hexagons, glass cupolas and a pair of curved staircases. It also offers over 1000 paintings and 400 sculptures, which includes the finest collections of European works in the Caribbean, such as works by Rubens, Rodin and Velasquez.
Other interesting buildings around the plaza include the Casa Alcaldia (the city hall), which is the oldest colonial building in Ponce, dating back to the 1840's. The whole downtown plaza is actually a worthwhile stop, with beautiful fountains, cathedral and the old red and black wooden fire station, which is still in use today.
For the people that prefer the shopping malls, the "La Guancha Paseo Tablado" (the boardwalk) will suit your needs. The boardwalk is Ponce's lively local gathering place and shopping centre, and also has a pier which is the departure point for a regularly scheduled weekend ferry trip to Coffin Island, a small island with unspoiled beaches ideal for the ones who which to soak up the sun and bronze their bodies. It also has a marked snorkeling trail with beautiful undersea views.
Ponce Attractions
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Tibes Indian Ceremonial center is a cemetery that features a
1500 year old Taino village, much of which remains unharmed.
It also has skeletons which date back to A.D 700. It is a interesting
place to spend your weekend afternoons.
Museo de Arte de Ponce is a historical museum that is housed in Casa Salazar, which is an exquisite blend of neoclassical and Moorish architecture and is well worth a visit. It is a good example of the old Puerto Rican and Spanish architecture, which dates back to thousands of years.
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Ponce Culture
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The Bomba & Plena Festival is an annual event drawn upon the
island's African heritage and Puerto Rican culture. This festival
features a blend of dance actions related to the Spanish Flamenco
(Bomba) and the simple, rhythmic and improvisational folkloric music
(Plena) associated with towns and coastal zones. This event is a
good reminder of how the language and culture started in this area.
A series of workshops using musical instruments handed down from
generation to generation are offered for adults and children. The
festival is not always held at the same time of year and the
entrance is usually free.
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Ponce Nightlife
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El Ancla
Av. Hostos Final 9, Ponce Playa
Phone: 787/840-2450
Cuisine: Seafood
Marks at the Melia
Calle Cristina 75
Phone: 787/284-6275
Cuisine: Novel
Bohemia Cocktail Lounge (Club)
Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort
Phone: 787-259-7676
Music: Salsa, Merengue
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