Editing San Juan, Puerto Rico (section)

==== San Juan Antiguo ====
{{Main|Old San Juan|Puerta de Tierra, San Juan}}
[[File:San Juan 3.jpg|thumb|right|Some streets in Old San Juan are still paved with blue [[cobblestones]] from the Spanish colonial era]]

During the Spanish colonial times most of the urban population resided in what is today known as [[Old San Juan]]. This sector is located on the western half of a small island called the [[Isleta de San Juan]], which is connected to the mainland by two bridges and a [[causeway]]. The small island, which comprises an area of {{convert|47|sqmi}}, also hosts the working-class neighborhood of [[Puerta de Tierra]] and most of Puerto Rico's [[Executive Departments of the Government of Puerto Rico|central government]] buildings, including the [[Puerto Rico Capitol|Commonwealth's Capitol]]. This is also the largest and most populated ''subbarrio'' of San Juan Antiguo.<ref name="2010 Census">{{cite book |url=https://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo35934/cph-2-53.pdf |title=Puerto Rico: 2010 Population and housing unit counts |publisher=U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau |year=2010 |page=76 |access-date=2019-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220183043/https://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo35934/cph-2-53.pdf |archive-date=2017-02-20 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The main central part of the old city is characterized by narrow streets made of blue [[cobblestone]] and picturesque colonial buildings, some of which date back to the 16th and 17th century. Sections of the old city are surrounded by massive walls and several defensive structures and notable forts. These include the 16th-century [[Fort San Felipe del Morro]] and the 17th-century [[Castillo San Cristóbal (San Juan)|Fort San Cristóbal]], both part of [[San Juan National Historic Site]], and the 16th-century [[La Fortaleza|El Palacio de Santa Catalina]], also known as [[La Fortaleza]], which serves as the governor's mansion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/60sjspanish/60sanjuan.htm|title=Los Castillos del Viejo San Juan|language=es|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=2007-05-06|archive-date=April 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412063451/http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/60sjspanish/60sanjuan.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Other buildings of interest predating the 18th century are the ''Ayuntamiento or Alcaldía'' ([[San Juan City Hall]]), the ''Diputación Provincial'' and the ''Real Intendencia'' buildings, which house the [[Puerto Rico Department of State]],<ref>[http://www.estado.gobierno.pr/galeria.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010215414/http://www.estado.gobierno.pr/galeria.htm|date=October 10, 2009}}</ref> the [[Casa Rosa]], the [[San José Church]] (1523) and the adjacent [[Hotel El Convento]], the former house of the Ponce de León family known as [[Casa Blanca (San Juan)|Casa Blanca]], the [[Teatro Tapia]], the former Spanish barracks (now [[Ballajá Barracks|Museum of Ballajá]]), ''La Princesa'' (former municipal jail, now headquartering the [[Puerto Rico Tourism Company]]), and the [[Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery]], located just outside the city walls.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://home.coqui.net/sarrasin/ballaja.htm |title=History of ''El Cuartel de Ballajá'' |language=es |publisher=Coquí.Net |access-date=2007-05-03 |archive-date=March 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305161943/http://home.coqui.net/sarrasin/ballaja.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.com/~prsanjua/pazzi.htm|title=Viejo Cementerio de San Juan (graveyard's history)|author=E. Ramirez Brau|year=2005|language=es|access-date=2007-02-03 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070116042729/http://www.rootsweb.com/~prsanjua/pazzi.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = January 16, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Teatro Tapia|publisher=Yahoo Travel|url=http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2770412-tapia_theater_san_juan-i;_ylc=X3oDMTFka28zOGNuBF9TAzI3NjY2NzkEX3MDOTY5NTUzMjUEc2VjA3NzcC1kZXN0BHNsawN0aXRsZQ--|access-date=2007-05-03|archive-date=March 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306041218/http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2770412-tapia_theater_san_juan-i|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Catedral Metropolitana Basílica de San Juan Bautista (San Juan, Puerto Rico)|Cathedral of San Juan Bautista]] (construction began in the 1520s) is also located in Old San Juan and contains the tomb of the Spanish explorer and settlement founder [[Juan Ponce de León]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catedralsanjuan.com/|title=Official Web Site of the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista|language=es|access-date=2007-05-03|archive-date=March 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301034701/http://www.catedralsanjuan.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> Old San Juan, also known as the "old city", is the main cultural tourist attraction in Puerto Rico; its bayside is lined by dock slips for large [[cruise ship]]s.