Ponce

Ponce, located on the southern coast of Puerto Rico has more historic buildings and plazas than the capital of Old San Juan. With over 1000 buildings, the architecture is mainly 19th-century criollo, which is a blend of rococo and neoclassical. Similar to New Orleans and Mardi Gras, the Carnival in February looks very much like the Big Easy. Parades and masked revelers fill the streets. With lots of local color, cafes and live salsa on the weekends, Ponce is great place to visit for those that want to capture a snapshot of the day-to-day life in an urban center outside of San Juan. Call the Tourism Office for more information.