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| A Magical Trip Down The Paseo La Princesa |
by Gabriela Gonzalez
DownIsland Staff
DownIsland Staff
| Click on pictures to enlarge |
Whether you’re on a cruise trip and your schedule includes a 1-day stop at San Juan, or you’
re planning on staying a whole week, one of the first places you have to visit at Puerto Rico’s
capital city is the Paseo La Princesa (La Princesa Promenade), a beautiful walkway
originally built in 1854 in honor of the Princess of Asturias of Spain.
The promenade stretches for approximately 393 meters, beginning near the Plaza de Hostos
–a small square featuring artisans’ kiosks, snacks, knick-knacks and whatnots that is located
pretty close to Pier 1 on the San Juan Bay—and leading up to the San Juan Gate, one of the
6 original huge doors that were used to protect the city’s residents after sunset during the
days of yore.
Indeed, a stroll down the Paseo La Princesa proves to be a most pleasant experience, partly
because of the beautiful vegetation, sculptures and small parks lining the way, but mostly
because it’s just plain magical.
During the day, especially on Saturdays and Sundays, the walkway bustles with activity,
where everyone can enjoy flavored ice cones served by the local piragüeros, different artisan
displays, and maybe even some street performances along the way.
On weekdays, visitors can also enter the Puerto Rico Tourism Company building, located
midway on the Paseo, housed in what used to be the La Princesa Prison, which was officially
closed in 1976. Today, the restored structure includes the tourism company’s main offices,
as well as an art gallery where different exhibits are held.
“Many people come in asking about the Princesa’s past [as a prison], but those days are
long gone,” says Eyla Martínez, a Promotions Representative at the P.R. Tourism Company.
“Why focus on something so morbose when there are so many other interesting things about
this place?”
West of La Princesa stands an impressive monument to the island’s cultural heritage, the
Monumento Raíces –a magnificent fountain with a bronze sculpture by the Spanish sculptor
Luis A. Sanguino Pascual, better known for works such as “The Immigrants” in Battery Park,
New York City.
To the left, a breathtaking view of the San Juan Bay lines the rest of the trip westward on
Paseo La Princesa, while to the right lies the great wall of La Fortaleza, or the Governor’s
Mansion.
Once you reach the San Juan Gate, you might want to cross over and see what’s on the other
side, but if you don’t feel like ending your night at La Princesa just yet, you can stroll right
back to the beginning and cap off your night at Café de La Princesa, a cozy outdoor
restaurant with a bohemian feel to it that offers great food and drinks at a reasonable price.
Café de La Princesa opens for breakfast and lunch on Mondays through Fridays until 3 pm.
In addition, it opens for dinner Thursdays through Saturdays from 5 pm to midnight, while the
bar stays open until 1:30 am. On Sundays, the café opens at noon, with the kitchen closing at
8 pm and the bar at 10 pm. Music lovers can enjoy live jazz every Friday and Saturday night,
and do some salsa dancing on Sundays with a live salsa group.
For more information on the Paseo La Princesa, you may call the Puerto Rico Tourism
Company at (787)721-2400. For information on Café de La Princesa, call the restaurant at
(787)724-2930.
re planning on staying a whole week, one of the first places you have to visit at Puerto Rico’s
capital city is the Paseo La Princesa (La Princesa Promenade), a beautiful walkway
originally built in 1854 in honor of the Princess of Asturias of Spain.
The promenade stretches for approximately 393 meters, beginning near the Plaza de Hostos
–a small square featuring artisans’ kiosks, snacks, knick-knacks and whatnots that is located
pretty close to Pier 1 on the San Juan Bay—and leading up to the San Juan Gate, one of the
6 original huge doors that were used to protect the city’s residents after sunset during the
days of yore.
Indeed, a stroll down the Paseo La Princesa proves to be a most pleasant experience, partly
because of the beautiful vegetation, sculptures and small parks lining the way, but mostly
because it’s just plain magical.
During the day, especially on Saturdays and Sundays, the walkway bustles with activity,
where everyone can enjoy flavored ice cones served by the local piragüeros, different artisan
displays, and maybe even some street performances along the way.
On weekdays, visitors can also enter the Puerto Rico Tourism Company building, located
midway on the Paseo, housed in what used to be the La Princesa Prison, which was officially
closed in 1976. Today, the restored structure includes the tourism company’s main offices,
as well as an art gallery where different exhibits are held.
“Many people come in asking about the Princesa’s past [as a prison], but those days are
long gone,” says Eyla Martínez, a Promotions Representative at the P.R. Tourism Company.
“Why focus on something so morbose when there are so many other interesting things about
this place?”
West of La Princesa stands an impressive monument to the island’s cultural heritage, the
Monumento Raíces –a magnificent fountain with a bronze sculpture by the Spanish sculptor
Luis A. Sanguino Pascual, better known for works such as “The Immigrants” in Battery Park,
New York City.
To the left, a breathtaking view of the San Juan Bay lines the rest of the trip westward on
Paseo La Princesa, while to the right lies the great wall of La Fortaleza, or the Governor’s
Mansion.
Once you reach the San Juan Gate, you might want to cross over and see what’s on the other
side, but if you don’t feel like ending your night at La Princesa just yet, you can stroll right
back to the beginning and cap off your night at Café de La Princesa, a cozy outdoor
restaurant with a bohemian feel to it that offers great food and drinks at a reasonable price.
Café de La Princesa opens for breakfast and lunch on Mondays through Fridays until 3 pm.
In addition, it opens for dinner Thursdays through Saturdays from 5 pm to midnight, while the
bar stays open until 1:30 am. On Sundays, the café opens at noon, with the kitchen closing at
8 pm and the bar at 10 pm. Music lovers can enjoy live jazz every Friday and Saturday night,
and do some salsa dancing on Sundays with a live salsa group.
For more information on the Paseo La Princesa, you may call the Puerto Rico Tourism
Company at (787)721-2400. For information on Café de La Princesa, call the restaurant at
(787)724-2930.
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