Hacienda Santa Rita, Sugar plantation and convent in Susúa Baja, Guánica, Puerto Rico.
Hacienda Santa Rita is a former sugar plantation and convent complex in the Susúa Baja area with multiple historic structures distributed across the property. The estate includes a main residence, former workers' quarters, and religious buildings that stand as reminders of its varied past.
The property was built in 1800 by Don Mariano Quiñonez as a sugar operation and later served as military quarters during the 1898 Spanish-American War. In 1953 the Dominican Order took over the estate and converted it into a religious community.
The site reflects how agricultural traditions and religious life became intertwined in Puerto Rico, visible in the buildings and how different communities shaped the spaces. Visitors can observe how the purpose and meaning of the place shifted as new people arrived and settled there.
The property welcomes visitors interested in learning about Puerto Rico's sugar industry and religious history through guided tours. Tours help explore the various buildings and understand how each served different purposes over time.
The property witnessed a transformation from colonial sugar production to military occupation and finally to monastic life. The buildings and their layout preserve traces of all three phases, creating a layered record of Puerto Rico's history within one location.
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