Things to do in San Germán
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Iglesia de Porta Coeli
This small church might not look much, but it is one of the oldest surviving ecclesial buildings in the Americas. Originally constructed between 1606 and 1607 on the orders of Queen Isabella of Spain, it once served as the chapel for a Dominican monastery that stood on this site until the 1860s. The current structure dates from a 1692 renovation and despite its architectural simplicity it retains a dramatic position at the crown of a long, steep flight of steps overlooking Plaza Santo Domingo.
The Porta Coeli ('Heaven's Gate' in Latin) has an interior with ausubo pillars and roof beams, and a ceiling made from palm wood, which is typical of construction in Puerto Rico dur…
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Tapas Café
Central San Germán has a perplexing dearth of decent restaurants so if you’re staying in town for more than one day you’ll probably end up here at least twice. Thankfully both the food and atmosphere are great, and on a busy night with a little bit of imagination you can picture yourself in the Triana district of Seville. Flamenco and bullfighting paraphernalia adorn the walls, while the plates are decorated with delicious fare such as albondigas (meatballs), queso manchego (Manchego cheese), tortilla española (Spanish omelette) and jamon serrano (cured Spanish ham).
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Cathedral
San Germán’s cathedral is named for the town’s patron saint and is noticeably grander than the diminutive Porta Coeli. Facing Plaza Francisco Mariano Quiñones, it dates back to 1739, but major restorations and expansions over the years (especially in the 19th century) have created a mélange of architectural styles, including colonial, neoclassical and baroque elements. This is an active parish; if you visit for a Saturday or Sunday service, take note of the crystal chandelier that helps to light the main nave and the trompe l’oeil fresco.
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Casa de Lola Rodríguez de Tió House
Built in 1843 in a neoclassical criollo style and said to be an excellent example of local 17th-century domestic architecture, this house is said to be the most continually occupied residence in the town. Its most famous resident was a 19th-century poet and patriot named Lola Rodríguez de Tió, who was exiled in the 1860s for her revolutionary activities. Lola’s mother was a descendant of Ponce de León. The house is supposed to act as a museum, but is often closed. Phone ahead.
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University
Founded in 1912, this university is now the largest private facility of its kind in the Western hemisphere. The 267-acre campus just west of San Germán is probably the most attractive college setting in Puerto Rico and it draws about 6000 students from all corners of the globe. There are branch campuses in San Juan, Arecibo, Barranquitas, Bayamón, Fajardo, Guayama and Ponce, and tens of thousands of students work toward degrees in both its Spanish and English programs.
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Casa Morales House
Highlighting the eclecticism and historical diversity of San Germán’s architecture this Victorian-era house was built soon after the American occupation in 1898. With its gables, porches and roof turrets, it is redolent of a Queen Anne–style structure from the plush neighborhood of a US mainland city. It also exemplifies how quickly American aesthetics infiltrated the island. It is a private home and not open to the public.
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La Casona
The beguiling yellow and blue Spanish-colonial building that dominates the north side of Plaza Francisco Mariano Quiñones is La Casona, a mid-19th-century townhouse that was once the meeting place for an elite San Germán social group known as the Círculo de Recreo. In more recent times it has served as a cultural center and a shop. At the time of research it was undergoing refurbishments.
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House
Situated on the main drag, this house - Casa Perichi is a 1920s estate that’s been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1986. Its eclectic architectural style featuring wraparound balconies and decorative wood trim has been called ‘Puerto Rican ornamental artisan.’ It’s not currently open for public viewing.
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Casa Acosta Y Flores House
Built in a crisscross of styles, this house, dating from 1917, exhibits elements of criollo, Victorian and art-nouveau architecture. Painted in cream and white with intricately decorated iron railing it resembles a beautifully crafted wedding cake. The house is a private residence, but can be admired from the outside.
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Viejo Alcaldía
The old city hall, which acts as a dividing line between the city's two central squares, is a classic example of a 19th-century colonial municipal building with its stately façade and cool inner courtyard. The building currently serves as a police station and the headquarters for San Germán's rather low-key tourist office.
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Casa Perichi
Situated on the main drag, Casa Perichi is a 1920s estate that's been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1986. Its eclectic architectural style featuring wraparound balconies and decorative wood trim has been called 'Puerto Rican ornamental artisan.' It's not currently open for public viewing.
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Chaparritas
Vegetarians might have a hard time finding something to eat here, because Chaparritas puts meat on everything and cooks with a lot of lard, but the food is undeniably hot and tasty when it comes to the table. It’s the usual Mexican burritos, tacos and enchiladas, but presented with flair.
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Museo y Casa Alfredo Ramírez de Arellano
Another eclectic house, built in 1903, this building is home to the local art and history museum, Museo y Casa Alfredo Ramírez de Arellano. Rooms are dedicated to different subjects, such as Taíno artifacts, religious curios like an old confessional booth, and colonial furniture.
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Museum
Another eclectic house, built in 1903, this building is home to the local art and history museum. Rooms are dedicated to different subjects, such as Taíno artifacts, religious curios like an old confessional booth, and colonial furniture.
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Museum
Inside the Iglesia de Porta Coeli is a small museum that displays statues of the black Virgin of Montserrat, folksy carvings of Christ imported from the early days of San Juan, choral books dating back 300 years and other curios.
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