Ponce Attractions

Puerto Rico's second largest city, Ponce, is known as the "La Perla del Sur" (Pearl of the South). Lying 3mi/5km from the south central coast of Puerto Rico, Ponce has an area of 115sq.mi/302 sq.km and a population of 200,000. Officially founded by Loíza Ponce de León (Juan Ponce de León's great-grandson) in 1692, Ponce was the capital of Puerto Rico's southern region until it fell to the U.S. in 1898. Ponce's historical center dates from the 17th C and many interesting plazas, churches, museums and colonial homes are found in the city. The patron saint of the city is the Virgin of Guadalupe, and locals are referred to as ponceños. Since the Second World War, the town has seen quick development in the industrial, commercial and tourist arenas.