Why is ponce puerto rico important

A report by the U. Census Bureau provides detailed demographics statistics for each of Ponce's barrios. The Census showed that Montes Llanos is the least populated barrio in the municipality. Thanks to its larger area, barrio Canas was by far the most populated ward of the municipality. At 68 persons per square mile, San Patricio was the least populated, while Cuarto was the most densely populated at 18, persons per square mile. Ponce has nine barrios that border neighboring municipalities.

The historic zone of the city is within these original six core city barrios. These eleven barrios composed what is known as the urban zone of the municipality. These last eight are outside the city limits and are neither coastal nor bordering barrios.

A summary of all the barrios of the municipality, their population, population density, and land and water areas as given by the U. Census Bureau is as follows:. Due to its historical importance throughout the years, Ponce features many points of interest for visiting tourists.

The downtown area contains the bulk of Ponce's tourist attractions. Tourism has seen significant growth in recent years. In , over 6, tourists visited the city via cruise ships. Though not all of these were tourists, it represents a volume larger than the population of the city itself. To support a growing tourist industry, around the s, and starting with the Ponce Holiday Inn , several hotels have been built. The Melia Hotel has operated in the city continuously since the early 20th century.

The Intercontinental Hotel, which opened in February and closed in , is under refurbishment and expected to re-open atop the hill near El Vigia as the Magna Vista Resort. The downtown Ponce Ramada Hotel plans to add a casino to its room structure. The plan was approved by the Ponce Municipal Legislature on 14 January The plan incorporates a one billion dollars in spending during the period of through The nonprofit Project for Public Places listed the historic downtown Ponce city center as one of the 60 of the World's Great Places , for its "graciously preserved showcase of Caribbean culture".

The city has been christened as Museum City for its many quality museums. All museums in Ponce are under municipal government administration.

On September 15, , the last four museums not under local control were transferred from the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture to the Ponce Municipal Government by act of the Puerto Rico Legislature.

Downtown Ponce in particular features several museums and landmarks. Plaza Las Delicias , the town's main square, features a prominent fountain namely, the "Lions Fountain" , the Ponce Cathedral , and Parque de Bombas , an old fire house, now a museum, that stands as an iconic symbol of the city and a tribute to the bravery of its firefighters. The Serralles castle is reported to receive nearly , visitors every year. The hill on which the Cruceta is located was originally used by scouts to scan for incoming mercantile ships as well as invading ones.

The invasion of American troops in was first spotted from there. Ponce is home to Puerto Rico's oldest cemetery; in fact, it is the oldest cemetery in the Antilles. In the city outskirts, the Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center was discovered in after hurricane rains uncovered pottery.

The center is the site of the oldest cemetery uncovered up to date in the Antilles. With some skeletons unearthed from the year AD, it is considered the largest and the most important archaeological finding in the West Indies. The Cementerio Catolico San Vicente de Paul has the most eye-catching burial constructions of any cemetery for the wealthiest families, both local and foreign-born, of southern Puerto Rico. Also in the city outskirts is Hacienda Buena Vista , an estate built in originally to grow fruits.

It was converted into a coffee plantation and gristmill in All the machinery works the metal parts are original, operated by water channeled from the m Vives waterfall; there is a hydraulic turbine which makes the corn mill work.

Paseo Tablado La Guancha is located in the town's sea shore. From the observation tower on the boardwalk, Cardona Island Light can be seen. A minute boat ride is also available to Isla de Caja de Muertos Coffin Island , a small island with several beaches and an lighthouse. As of [update] , the city had also engaged in the development of a convention center with a capacity for 3, people.

It is also to include two major hotels, apartment buildings and recreational facilities. The city is home to a long list of cultural assets including libraries, museums, galleries, and parks, hundreds of buildings of historical value including schools, residences, bridges, and estates, and frequent activities such as festivals and carnivals. The municipality invests close to half a million dollars in promoting its cultural assets.

It established its first library in and, as of [update] had a new central library with seven other branches scattered throughout the municipality. The city values its cultural traditions as evidenced by the revitalization project Ponce en Marcha. It is deeply rooted in its traditional cultural, artistic, and musical heritage. The love for art and architecture, for example, can be appreciated at its museums of art, music, and architecture.

Ponce, on the other hand, has been content to retain its old traditions and culture. Ponce is not concerned about losing its long standing position as the second largest city in population after San Juan.

On the contrary, she prefers to maintain her current size, and stick to its old traditions and culture. Their insularity and haughtiness are legendary, and some Puerto Ricans claim that even the dialect in Ponce is slightly different from that spoken in the rest of the Island. They are also racially different: you'll see more people of African descent in Ponce than anywhere else in the Island except Loiza.

Artistic development also flourished during this period. The surging of popular rhythms like Bomba and Plena took place in the south region of the island, mainly in Ponce. Every July, Ponce celebrates an annual festival of Bomba and Plena, which includes various musicians and parades. The African personality, belief, and music add flavor and colorful rhythm to Ponce's culture. Part of this are the influences of the Bomba and Plena rhythms. These are a combination and Caribbean and African music.

Ponce has also been the birthplace of several singers and musicians. From opera singers like Antonio Paoli, who lived in the early 20th century, to contemporary singers like Ednita Nazario. Dating back to , Ponce's Carnival is the oldest in Puerto Rico, and acquired an international flavor for its th anniversary.

It is one of the oldest carnivals celebrated in the Western Hemisphere. It features various parades with masked characters representative of good and evil. No discussion of music in Ponce would be complete without rendering honor to the great performances of King of Tenors Antonio Paoli and danza master Juan Morel Campos, both from Ponce.

A municipal band presents concerts every Sunday evening, and a Youth Symphony Orchestra also performs. Ponce's love for the arts dates back to at least when the Teatro La Perla was built.

Ponce is also the birthplace of artists like Miguel Pou, Horacio Castaing, and several others in the fields of painting , sculpture , and others. Browse the little gift shop: we bought some nice prints here to bring home.

Just across the road from the Cross of Vigia is a little Japanese Garden. With little red bridges, koi ponds featuring colorful fish and a couple of turtles, and a few bonsai, the garden is a serene place to stroll or sit and enjoy the breeze at the top of the hill. Take photos of the reflecting ponds, let the therapeutic sound of the water soothe you, take in the quiet beauty of the plantings, and just relax for a bit in this peaceful oasis.

The ruins were discovered by accident when floods caused by tropical storm Eloise in retreated from the area. The site has only been partially excavated so far, but significant artifacts and remains of structures have been uncovered.

Burial grounds, plazas, tools and pottery, skeletons, and weapons are some of the finds at the site. A small museum houses the artifacts. The center is just 3 miles from Ponce. Plan to join a tour in English for an exponentially enhanced experience: call ahead to reserve spots on a tour for the date you want to visit. Walking the historic center of Ponce, with its beautiful colonial architecture, is one of the most fun things to do in Ponce!

Start by strolling through the Plaza de las Delicias, with its fountains and tree-lined paths. Then walk the surrounding streets, to admire the colorful facades, often with pretty balconies and other lovely detail. A walking tour is a great way to explore the historical core of Ponce. Coffee is very much a part of Puerto Rican culture, and if you love coffee and want to learn more, visit a coffee plantation while you are in Ponce. Hacienda Buena Vista, in the nearby mountains, is a historical site that was once a coffee plantation.

Here you can see the fully restored unique hydraulic turbine, and tour the beautiful property. The drive from Ponce to Hacienda Buena Vista is just a little over nine miles, and very scenic. To avoid disappointment, call ahead and reserve a spot on a tour ahead of time: spaces get filled early during high season. Alternatively, you can visit a working coffee plantation in the mountains, to see the coffee plants and tour the processing center, where coffee beans are sorted and roasted to be ground.

This 7. But we stopped in anyway and were so glad we did! Try the local flavors: pineapple, tamarind, coconut, passion fruit, or soursop. We tried all of these flavors during our time in Ponce and every single one was delicious! The coffin-shaped island that lies just a few miles off the coast of Ponce makes for great photos.

But you can also hop on a boat and go explore the Isla de Caja de Muertos. The cute island is really tiny: just about 1. Because it has an endangered turtle population, it is designated a nature reserve. It boasts four beautiful beaches and hiking trails. To get to Isla de Caja de Muertos, join a catamaran excursion from Salinas , about 30 miles from Ponce. Excursions also depart from the boardwalk at Ponce. The tour includes the opportunity to snorkel in the beautiful clear waters around the island.

Excursions to the island take several hours, so plan on an extra day in Ponce if you wish to experience this magical little island. And take a picnic lunch and drinks with you! Visit during the day to watch the boats and to photograph the pelicans that hang out at the pier.

Visit in the evening to watch the sun set and to have a drink or a bite to eat. On weekends, expect live music performances and lots of crowds. The natural areas around Ponce are home to a variety of wildlife, so pack your binoculars and your camera with zoom lens when you visit!

We stayed at the Hilton Resort just outside the city, and saw lots of wildlife on the grounds. This archeological discovery affirms that the Igneri Indians pre-Taino did not completely disappear without leaving traces of their existence other than samples of ceramic pottery. At Tibes, there is proof that the Igneris were farmers, fishermen, and hunters of birds and small animals. Since April 30, , the site opened its doors to the public. Today, it is a popular a tourist attraction, featuring seven bateyes ball fields , some carved with petroglyphs, said to have been used for a soccer like game.

On one of two dance grounds, stones line up with the sun during the equinox and solstice, making Tibes a pre-Columbian astronomical observatory. Open Tue-Sun am-4pm. Soon after, the musuem opened its doors in and it was the first museum in Puerto Rico totally devoted to the history of the people of a city, displaying documents, objects and relics related to the historical development of the city.

Located at 53 Calle Isabel. The Museo Casa Wiechers-Villaronga a house designed by famous architect Alfredo Wiechers for his own family in the early 20th century, contains the original furniture and architectural details traditional in Ponce urban homes.

Recently restored by the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriquena. Open Wed-Sunday, 8ampm, Hacienda Buena Vista Buena Vista Plantation also known as Hacienda Vives was built in by Don Salvador de Vives, originally devoted to growing fruits, then converted into a coffee plantation and corn mill in with continued operation until Hacienda Buena Vista was beautifully restored by Puerto Rico Conservation Trust and has been operating as a museum since All the machinery still in working condition the metal parts are original and is operated by water channeled from the m Vives waterfall; the hydraulic turbine which turns the corn mill is unique and the only remaining example of the Barker hydraulic turbine.

The plantation features a main house, slave quarters, farm buildings, and processing areas providing visitors with a unique insight into Puerto Rican last century history and best remaining example of a Puerto Rican coffee plantation. The rooms of the hacienda have been furnished with authentic pieces from the s.

Located on Rte. Reservations are required. Weekdays , weekends If you are looking for shopping malls, Plaza del Caribe is the most elegant shopping mall in Ponce. You will find over shops as well as six theaters and a restaurant area to satisfy their entertainment and gastronomic needs. Mon-Sat 9am-9pm; Sun 11am-5pm, The Fox Delicias Mall , located in front of the plaza in Ponce.

Restaurants occupy the entire bottom floor, while the many shops and a cafe-theater are on the second story. Mon-Thu 8am-9pm; Fri-Sat 8ampm; Sun 8am-9pm, There is also the Centro del Sur Shopping Center houseing about 50 shops. Mon-Thu 9am-6pm; Fri 9am-9pm; Sat 9am-6pm; Sun 10am-5pm, Ponce is an important trading and distribution center, and has a port of entry; Playa de Ponce Port is one of the busiest ports in the Caribbean area, handles coffee, tobacco, molasses, rum, and bananas and other tropical fruits.

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