Front view of Casa Rosa.

Casa Rosa

San Juan


Built in 1812, this tropical pink villa first served as barracks for Spanish troops. In 1881, it was converted into officers’ quarters. The building has since been restored and is used as a day-care center for the children of government workers.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby San Juan attractions

1. Casa Blanca

0.06 MILES

First constructed in 1521 as a residence for Puerto Rico’s pioneering governor, Juan Ponce de León (who died before he could move in), Casa Blanca is the…

2. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña

0.07 MILES

Constructed in the mid-19th century as a shelter for the poor, this bright-yellow building houses the executive offices of this institute that organizes a…

3. Museo de las Américas

0.1 MILES

This museum presents an impressive overview of cultural development in the Americas, including indigenous, African and European influences. Four permanent…

4. Plazuela de la Rogativa

0.11 MILES

This diminutive gem of a square with lovely views over the bay is home to an interesting, stylized bronze sculpture of a former bishop of San Juan and…

5. Escuela de Artes Plásticas y Diseño

0.11 MILES

The grand edifice with a red-roofed dome, arches and porticos across from El Morro was an insane asylum during the 19th century; now it's a prestigious…

6. Cuartel de Ballajá

0.12 MILES

Built in 1854 as a military barracks, the cuartel is an impressive three-story edifice with large gates on two ends, a series of arches and a large…

7. Puerta de San Juan

0.13 MILES

One of the three remaining gates into the old city, the lofty red portal known as the Puerta de San Juan is a popular photo stop. Spanish ships once…

8. Casa Museo Felisa Rincón de Gautier

0.14 MILES

This museum, an attractive neoclassical townhouse, was the longtime home of San Juan’s beloved mayor, Doña Felisa. She presided over the growth of the…