Historic Meeting Places in San Juan

Over 500 years of history, narrow cobblestone streets, colonial buildings, art galleries and museums, and old fortresses are just some of the attractions that you will find when you visit Old San Juan in Puerto Rico.  And, some of these historical, centuries-old sites can be the place to host that unforgettable event that you want to celebrate.    Here is a brief description of those sites:

Interior Patio of Dominican Convent:
One of San Juan's oldest landmarks, this Dominican Convent serves as a unique site for informal dinners or cocktail receptions.  It once served as a barrack for Spanish soldiers during the Spanish-American war and then as the headquarters of the U.S. Antilles Command until 1966. Now, this historic building, with its immense interior patio, holds approximately 700-1,000 people.  The Convent will eventually serve as the city's museum of fine arts and currently contains the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture book and music stores. 

Casa Blanca Gardens:
Built for Juan Ponce de León, the first governor of Puerto Rico, Casa Blanca now serves as a museum featuring 16th- and 17th-century family life.  The museum's large garden and attractive salon can hold up to 300 people, thus making it an inviting setting for a late afternoon function or cocktail party.  Casa Blanca's ethnographic museum and miniature recreation of a Taíno Village give it a genuine Puerto Rico ambiance. 

La Puntilla Arsenal:
A former Spanish naval station overlooking the San Juan Bay, La Puntilla Arsenal often serves a site for large dinner functions, and has a capacity to hold up to 2,000 people.  The arsenal is also a center for changing art exhibitions and cultural activities. 

Tapia Theater:
With a capacity to hold 700 people, this 19th century theater serves as an arena for cultural events and enchanting ballet performances and is an ideal spot for meetings and presentations. 

La Princesa Promenade:
Formerly the local San Juan penitentiary, La Princesa is an ideal site for a banquet function featuring local music and dance.  Surrounded by elegantly landscaped trees, statues and kiosks, La Princesa Promenade has a capacity to hold 400-500 people.  A breathtaking site, it faces the San Juan Bay and overlooks a fountain and bronze sculpture which depicts Puerto Rico's cultural roots.  

Old Casino - Official Government Reception Center:
Old San Juan's most lavish building, the Old Casino is a masterpiece of plasterwork, capitals, friezes, cornices and pilasters.  Its white marble ballroom featuring a 12' by 9' chandelier sets the tone for elegant receptions and social functions.  This luxurious building can host up to 400 people. 

Cuartel de Ballajá:
These barracks, the largest structure built by the Spaniards in the “New World,” were once home to Spanish troops and their families; today, the historic building noted for its symmetrical architecture, houses the Museum of the Americas, which features archaeological finds and a colorful exhibit of crafts in the Americas. Ballajá is an outdoor courtyard that accommodates up to 1,500 people for a reception. 

For more information on places to hold your groups, conventions, and receptions visit the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau at www.meetpuertorico.com or call (800) 875-4765.