Dating to 1521, the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista isn’t just one of the oldest buildings in San Juan—it’s the second-oldest cathedral in all of the Americas. Go inside to see the tomb of Spanish explorer Ponce de León, who founded the first settlement on Puerto Rico and in 1509 was named the island’s first governor. The remains of St. Pio, a Roman martyr, can also be seen in the cathedral—the saint’s mummy has been displayed here in a glass box since 1862.
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Cathedral of San Juan Bautista
Dating to 1521, the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista isn’t just one of the oldest buildings in San Juan—it’s the second-oldest cathedral in all of the Americas. Go inside to see the tomb of Spanish explorer Ponce de León, who founded the first settlement on Puerto Rico and in 1509 was named the island’s first governor. The remains of St. Pio, a Roman martyr, can also be seen in the cathedral—the saint’s mummy has been displayed here in a glass box since 1862.
Touring the Second-Oldest Cathedral in the Western Hemisphere
Inside this 16th-century church, last renovated in 1917, you’ll find yourself wanting to snap detailed shots of the intricate scenes drawn in stained glass. Search for the tomb of Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon, the shrine to Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago (the first Puerto Rican to be beatified), and the somewhat unsettling St. Pio, whose mummified remains are housed in a glass box inside the cathedral.
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While in the area of Old San Juan stop by this church and check out the interior details. The details and beauty of the stations of prayer and ceiling are a must see.