Ponce, Puerto Rico Called "Le Perla del Sur" (Pearl of the South), Ponce was founded in 1692 by Juan Ponce de León's great-grandson- Loíza Ponce de León. Ponce is also know as the "Ciudad Señorial" because of its many beautiful neoclassical buildings and facades. It lies 3 mi from the south central coast of the island. Nearly one half billion dollars have been spent preserving the colonial core of Ponce - a national treasure dating from the late 17th century. It consists of plazas and churches and highly decorative colonial homes, some glorious fountains and a unique fire station. Playa de Ponce Port is Puerto Rico's principal shipping port and one of the busiest ports in the Caribbean area. It handles tobacco, coffee, rum and sugar cane. |