Plaza Colón (San Juan) facts for kids
Plaza Colón is a famous public square in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Its name means "Columbus Square" in Spanish. This plaza used to be called Santiago Square. It is located where the old city walls and a main city gate once stood.
Today, Plaza Colón is a popular spot for people to meet. Many visitors start their tours of Old San Juan from here. It's close to cruise ship docks, many restaurants, cafes, and gift shops. Important places like San Cristóbal Castle, Tapia Theater, the Old Casino, and the Puerto Rico Capitol are also nearby.
History of Plaza Colón
This area was once a very important place for travel and social life in San Juan. The Tapia Theater, a famous building, was built here and opened in 1832.
In 1893, a statue of Christopher Columbus was put up in the square. This was to celebrate 400 years since Europeans first arrived in Puerto Rico. Before this, a statue of Juan Ponce de León was in the square. It was later moved to Plaza San José.
Before 1897, the plaza was the eastern end of the strong walls that protected San Juan. One of the main city entrances, called Santiago Gate (or Puerta de Santiago in Spanish), was located here.
In May 1897, this part of the wall was taken down. People felt it was no longer needed and was stopping the city from growing. The old walled area felt cut off from the newer parts of San Juan. After the Columbus statue was placed there, people started calling the square Plaza Colón instead of Plaza Santiago.
Today, the square has beautiful marble tiles. It is lit up by fancy lamp posts. These were added when the area was updated in the late 1900s.
Images for kids
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A view of the square from San Cristóbal Castle.
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A view of the square from San Cristóbal Castle in 1964.
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A view of the square from a postcard around 1900-1915.
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A close-up of one of the plaques on the Columbus column.
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See also
