San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico. Founded in the sixteenth century by Spanish colonists, it is reputedly the second oldest European-established city in the Americas. San Juan is known as "La Ciudad Amurallada" (the walled city) and today serves not only as one of Puerto Rico's most important ports, but also as the main centre for manufacturing, finance, culture and tourism. Well worth a visit is the city's old town, a 465-year-old neighbourhood originally built as a military stronghold. Walking through the cobbled streets you will see hundreds of restored 16th- and 17th-century Spanish colonial buildings, beautiful town squares and parks with views that carry right out to sea.
