Ponce, Puerto Rico Historical Tour

Ponce’s beautiful downtown plaza is a must-see for tourists. Our Lady of Guadalupe Cathedral stands out from the neoclassical and Spanish-Revival facades that have represented Ponce for generations. Also within the Plaza is the Parque de Bombas, a century-old red and black firehouse that reflects the city’s traditional colors. The plaza is also adorned with lion fountains, gardens, and monuments honoring a variety of local personages.

This world-class museum is the largest in the Caribbean and holds over 4,500 works of European and Latin American art. With works dating back 500 years, the museum continues to grow its collection with a renewed focus on contemporary art.

Founded in 1956 by Luis A. Ferré, the museum was initially home to its collector’s copies of European masterpieces. These copies eventually led to the purchase of 71 paintings at a New York auction. Ferré opened the first iteration of the museum in a house on Cristina Street in 1959. Some of the original paintings that made up his collection are still on display today. Later, Ferré bought land on Las Americas Avenue across from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. On April 23, 1964, the first stone for the eventual museum was placed. Construction continued until 1965 when the museum officially opened to the public in December.

The museum’s design was created by renowned architect Edward Durell Stone. One of the building’s most distinctive features is its hexagonal galleries, which allow natural light in from corners. This particular idea was Ferré’s, who wanted the structure to be as beautiful as the art pieces it housed. With a total of 14 galleries, two gardens, and an amphitheater, the Ponce Museum of Art welcomes guests with its unique bifurcated entrance.

With an impressive collection of pieces that range from the 14th to the 20th century, the Ponce Museum of Art also displays Italian Baroque, British Pre-Raphaelite, Spanish Golden Age, and contemporary Latin-American art installations. Iconic works include Fredrick Lord Leighton’s gorgeous “Flaming June.” Roy Lichtenstein’s 28-foot high painted metal sculpture “Brushstrokes in Flight” marks the main entrance.

In 2010, a $30 million renovation breathed new life into the cultural institution by expanding its exhibition and theater space. Currently, the museum is undergoing another restoration project to repair sections that have deteriorated due to time and hurricane damage from the 1990s. The Ferré family continue to serve as the museum’s primary patrons.

This ancient Indian site is the oldest cemetery uncovered to date in the Antilles. This prehistoric location dates back to 400 AD and holds 12 stone structures, including ceremonial plazas and ball courts (nine of which are open to the public).

As a result of his archeological and astronomical investigations, researcher Osvaldo Garcia Goyco argues that “there is evidence that some of the plazas are oriented in relation to the equinox and solstice of the four seasons of the year.” This finding makes the Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center the oldest astronomical observatory in the Antilles.

Please note that this particular attraction is closed on Mondays. Entrance fees are included as part of your total tour rate.

Castillo Serrallés is a mansion overlooking the downtown area of Ponce. It was originally built in the 1930s for Juan Eugenio Serrallés, son of businessman Juan Serrallés. The elder Serrallés is best known for establishing Destileria Serrallés, a distillery popularly known for its Don Q rum.