History is everywhere in Old San Juan; from the fortifications, colonial architecture, the plazas and the famous cobblestone streets.
This year Old San Juan celebrates its 500th year anniversary and to mark the occasion The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture (ICP) and the San Juan Commission 500 years will celebrate with a host of activities starting this weekend. Activities will commence on Thursday Sep 12 until Sunday Sep 15.
The dates were chosen to mark the date when the capital of Puerto Rico was moved from Caparra in Guaynabo to the islet that we all know now as Puerta de Tierra and Old San Juan
During the weekend there will be a craft and book fair in Cuartel de Ballaja, along with talks and exhibitions. Events will also take place in Casa Blanca and there will be a special presentation of the tour “Isabel II: Social Impact Projects”
On Saturday Sep 14, Plaza del Quinto Centenario will also host the second semifinal of the National Troubadours Contest, on Saturday, at 1:30 pm and a special performance from the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra
On Sunday Sep 15, there will be performances starting at 1pm from Bomba group of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) Carolina Campus and the Arecibo Campus Band , the Guateque Folkloric Ballet, Pablo Luis Rivera along with Cultural Restoration, the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, the Tuna of the Inter-American University and the event closes with Pirulo and the Tribe
This weekend will be the first in a series of activities marking the 500th anniversary and on September 19 the Capitán Miranda Schooner will dock in San Juan, where it will be open to the public.
