Statue of Juan Ponce de León, Bronze statue in Plaza de San José, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The statue stands prominently in Plaza de San José, created from bronze obtained from British cannons captured during the 1797 Battle of San Juan.
The statue was commissioned by King Alfonso XII of Spain and manufactured in New York in 1882 to commemorate Puerto Rico's first Spanish governor.
The monument represents the Spanish colonial period in Puerto Rico and stands as a central point for discussions about historical representation in the Caribbean.
The statue remains accessible to visitors throughout the year and serves as a meeting point for guided walking tours of Old San Juan.
In 2022, the statue was toppled and restored within 24 hours, just before King Felipe VI's visit to commemorate San Juan's 500th anniversary.
Location: San Juan
Inception: 1882
Made from material: bronze
GPS coordinates: 18.46735,-66.11827
Latest update: March 6, 2025 22:30
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