Guided tours of old city holy sites to be offered this week
By The Star Staff
On the occasion of Holy Week, the Municipality of San Juan Tourism Office is offering guided tours through various religious sites in the old city, Mayor Miguel Romero Lugo announced Monday.
The route is called Faith Through 500 Years of San Juan and tours are being offered twice a day, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., during Holy Week through Saturday, April 16.
“Old San Juan, in addition to being a strategic military point, is also considered the cradle of evangelization,” the mayor said. “With the arrival of the Spaniards came Catholicism, but with the change of government in 1898, free worship arrived, which brought Protestantism to the island of Puerto Rico. That is why the Tourism Office of the Municipality of San Juan offers this route in which many of these important places are shown.”
The route includes a walking tour of different places of worship, including the San Juan Bautista Cathedral, the Methodist Church, and the Servants of Mary Chapel belonging to the Old Hospital of the Immaculate Conception, among others. It lasts some two and a half hours and the participants will not only be able to appreciate architectural beauty but also will learn historical facts about the evangelization throughout the 500 years of history of the islet of San Juan Bautista.
The tour, to be led by municipal guides, is free of charge and is available in both English and Spanish. Those interested can register on the Eventbrite platform (https://bit.ly/RutaIglesias500) by calling (787) 480-2910 or writing to turismosj@sanjuan.pr. Spaces per session are limited.