The Palacio in Old San Juan is the oldest continuously occupied executive mansion in the New World. Construction started in 1533. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is currently occupied by the Governor of Puerto Rico and his family. (Please click to enlarge).
The Palacio is built on a prime ocean view spot in Old San Juan and is surrounded by La Forteleza or the old fort walls.
The stunning interiors are like stepping into old Spain.
The gardens are tropical with fruit, vegetables and flowers in abundance. Fountains and tile mosaics abound.
The views are simply spectacular.
Adjoining the residence, is El Hospital, la Cofradía de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, built in 1556 and currently run by catholic nursing nuns for elderly patients.
I wouldn’t want to be a poltician, but I would love to stay in this house! Saludos a usted!
All the pictures are gorgeous Cindy,thanks for sharing.
So glad you enjoyed them my friend!
Puerto Rico, like Europe” is very colorful. Over here, some of my neighbors complained that another neighbor painted his house yellow.
I had a neighborhood HOA complain that I planted too many flowers! I should have painted my house yellow too!!! Laughing……
You planted too many flowers!!!!!!! What ??????????
God save the world from such a riotous act, I know. I was forced to dig them out and replace with an “approved ground cover.” It’s one of the reason we moved to the boondocks, to get away from this kind of thinking~
I have to second your sentiments – being a politician, no; living in a palace, yes.
Laughing……EXACTLY!
Beautiful colors!
Cheers one right up doesn’t it! Muchas gracias~
gorgeous house…I agree, wouldn’t want to be a politician!
Has to be on the top ten list of most disreputable jobs!
magic!
Vielen Danke!
Love the tiles set into the stairs, Cindy. I’m going for that look, when I’m rich. 🙂
Laughing…….You can even do it when your not rich! Just need to find a wholesale tile distrubutor~
Cindy, I must say I most enjoy these virtual tours you extend to us. Otherwise, you know, I would never see these spectacular places.
Oh, and not wanting to be a politician, speaks well of you.
Laughing, particularly enjoyed that last sentence!!! So pleased you enjoy the virutal travel. I enjoy the virtual world my fellow bloggers create immensely! Cheers to you~
Magnificent architecture Cindy. Those stairs in the one image are an absolute work of art.
Aren’t they spectacular…..I got a fair number of tiled stairways in Old San Juan, so beautiful!
Amazing pictures Cindy! Wow 1533. Europeans did not settle in Australia until 1788!
I was surprised by this date too. There is an even older house next door that I also got in. I didn’t expect these dates in the New World!
Thanks for a wonderful tour!
Thank you for appreciating!
I could feel the warm breeze and smell the fragrant flowers as I looked at these pics – simply awesome!
Yay!! I posted something that didn’t scare you off!!! Laughing……
Nope….but it won’t be long before I see a giant tarantula or cockroach!
laughing….that is true!!!
How beautiful and I would”t want to clean it.
Well, there is always that, isn’t there!!!!
I love all these buildings you are currently posting, Cindy. The colours are so stunning 🙂
Makes me happy that you do! I aim to please~
So beautiful! I’m very impressed with how well its held up 🙂
Amazing isn’t it! I am too~
Imagine living there, looking out over the fort and harbour….
I would say that is an impossible to replicate piece of property. I fell in love with it~
Cindy, did you take all these beautiful photographs? And 1533? My gosh, finally something older than me… That’s not long after the Western view of Columbus discovering America. 🙂
I know….I was adding it up too. Old San Juan was founded in something like 1506! Pretty old for the new world. And true, it is a little bit older than me too………Thank God!
LOL
questo palazzo è una vera meraviglia! i colori sono magnifici e la posizione sull’oceano ne accentua la bellezza, sai che anche le scale della mia casa sono costruite con la maiolica tra uno scalino e l’altro? i gradini però sono di cotto fiorentino, mi ha fatto piacere notarne la somiglianza
🙂
This Palace is a true wonder! the colors are magnificent ocean and accentuates the beauty, you know that even the stairs of my house are built with majolica between one step and the other? the steps, however, are the Florentine cotto, I was pleased to note the similarity
In case you can’t tell, I am a major fan of Spanish architecture….the tile work, the central courtyards, the mosaics, the fountains. I am in love with all of this. This house is amazing. Situated on a point, with panoramic views, surrounded by the forteleza, Your house must be beautiful, and yes! I too have a central courtyard, Spanish tile, fountain. I love this beautiful artistry. I would love to see photos of your tile work. It sounds exquisite! Grazie e auguri a voi!
I have a sneaking suspicion that you go around painting places before you photograph them. Good job. 🙂
Hilarious……Sometimes I do move plants!! Laughing…..
aaaargh I’ve been splattered with little stars. Thank you very much. 🙂
Beautiful! What a blessing to see it in person.
Yes these old buildings have a vibe that must be experienced. I hope you visit, if you are interested! Cheers to you~
Beautiful pictures, as always.
Awww, lovely comment, as always! Gracias~
“I wouldn’t want to be a poltician, but I would love to stay in this house! Saludos a usted!” Agreed!!!
🙂
Very nice tour of the mansion! The use of porcelain and the red bricks are a good combination. The garden on steps looks lovely. I like it.
So glad you do ma deah!! I’m partial to it too~
I love the balustrades and the weaving mosaic. Your pictures always take us to a different time and space.
I am so very glad they do that for you! I do like to travel in space and time~
I’d feel privilege to walking into this gorgeous mansion and garden. Thank you for sharing! Looking forward to seeing more 🙂
You make blogging rewarding. Thank you my friend~
I wouldn’t mind staying there if someone else picks up the cleaning bill…
Yes, someone else mentioned this too…..I never think about these sort of realities……until I actually have to do it! Laughing…..
great photos
thanks you made me travel today
need to visit
Puerto Rico
So happy it took you away from it all! Cheers to you~
UNESCO World Heritage sites – they are gifts to our world! Wonderful photos –
Yes, Fae at Twist & Tango, is trying to visit all of them! I bet she will~
What a wonderful project!!! 🙂
I love the stairs and the windows!
They are a great match!
😀
So creative and special. I agree with you Hari~
Spectacular!
Gracias mi amiga!
How come I didn’t think of it????? Laughing~
It is very beautiful.
So happy you think so!
I love this part of the world…so grand. Their designs are beautiful and cater to our deeper sense of being. thanks
What a lovely way to explain how this place feels! Thank you~
Yes!! A wonderful way to express the feelings this provokes. Thank you~
Oh to live in a blue mansion; how lovely. There is something rather satisfying about having a hospital for the elderly next door to the politician’s abode…a reminder that we are all mortal. Did you notice the one different tile on the stairs? It almost looks like one of the tiles from the seat outside.
I had not noticed the tile! How perceptive you are. I bet they had no similar tile to replace it with. Now that I see it, it jumps out! And yes I love the hospital and the old world nursing nuns and the name of things house ie.,The House of Helping etc~
Irregularities in tiles or not, it’s a beautiful place.
Agreed~
Beautiful post…each shot is perfectly composed and first rate. I am jealous 🙂
Well, don’t be, I a big fan of your blog! Thank you so much & cheers~
Ok, well cheers back from another fan…..
🙂 🙂
Stunning photos, as always! Brightened my day. 🙂
I aim for that and am quite pleased it worked!
Magnificent! What a wonderful house for Wolfe to live in lol 🙂
San you imagine all the fun he would have chasing all the cats?????
Oooh! Wolfie heaven!!
I’d like to stay there for about a month, Cindy. It’s gorgeous. Thanks for sharing the pictures…, they’re gorgeous too !
…a small addition: The month of January !!!!!!
Oh, I hope you book for 2015. I have a feeling you would fall in love with The Old City as I have!
Simply beautiful photos, as always, Cindy!
Simply kind of you to say, as always & so appreciated!
What a beauty! My gowns would look amazing shot in there.
You must want to stay in PR for a long time. It’s so appealing, and your shots are fabulous!
Ooooooh! They would be perfect! I had trouble opening them a few days ago as I wanted to see what was new. I will try again today. I simply love your gowns.
Love the stair shot Cindy. Can you imagine living in such a place. You would definitely want and army of housekeepers and gardeners to keep the place up. But being governor, I imagine you have them. 🙂 –Curt
Yes! There was a trampoline in the inner courtyard, so this is really home, with a family and children. I imagine growing up in Old San Juan would provide a child with endless opportunites for adventure and exploration!
Wonderful architecture. I wouldn’t have thought of those beautiful places being built in the 1500s. Amazing! 🙂
Pretty old for the “new world.” I was surprised too~
Nice palace. I got to see the palace from outside the gate one year during Christmas time one year when I was there for training that I had to take for an upgrade to an ETTS (e-tracking & training system).
Tracking and training what???? Pray tell…I am intrigued!
LOL – sounds more exciting than it is. It’s for tracking & training regulatory compliance requirements & such.
hmmmm….maybe next time you can develop a tummy ache and sneak out and see the sights! Laughing…….
Ein schönes Wochenende wünsche ich Dir.
Danke schoen freund!
Love some of those photo’s. So colorful. A great lift after the winter that doesn’t seem to want to end.
Oh good, take heart spring is around the corner!
Liebe Cindy mir gefällt die Treppe mit den schönen blauen Fliesen das Fenster und die Stuckarbeit am Besten das sieht Atemberaubend aus einfach nur wunderschön ein tolles Wochenende wünsche ich dir und sei ganz lieb gegrüßt Klaus
ich danke Ihnen sehr, mein Freund!
Hello! Feel free to watch my new photo album. I greet and wish you a beautiful weekend!
http://marciento.wordpress.com/2014/02/23/ducks-and-pigeons-kaczki-i-golebie/
Beautiful building, beautiful color blue.
So happy you think so & cheers to you~
beautiful 🙂
Muchos gracias!
Gorgeous 🙂 place and I love all the different kind of plants ! Compliments for all the beautiful photos !
Your kindness is greatly appreciated my friend!
You’re welcome Cindy 🙂 🙂 🙂 !
When I was 9 my family had a layover in San Juan. My dad made us go to the fort which was trés drab compared to the palace!
Men always want to go to forts, women to palaces! Don’t tell anyone but I really only watch Downton for the interiors and the clothes…..can’t get enough of either!
I’m a huge interior decor fan myself. That manor makes me drool!
It would be a huge trial to have to eat breakfast every morning under that Van Dyck, but I would force myself…..
Reblogged this on Manolis.
I missed this! So sorry and thank you for your thoughtfulness my friend!
Visitar o seu blog é muito bom! Parabéns por tanta beleza!
Você é uma pessoa adorável e adoro visitar seu blog também!