Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista

The Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist is the Catholic cathedral for the Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico. Located in the Old San Juan historic district it is one of the oldest buildings in both Puerto Rico and the Americas, the oldest purpose-built cathedral building and second-oldest existing cathedral in the Americas, and the third cathedral to be constructed in the Americas The cathedral contains the tomb of the Spanish explorer and settlement founder Juan Ponce de León. It also contains the national shrine to Our Lady of Divine Providence, national patron of Puerto Rico, and a shrine dedicated to the Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago, the first Puerto Rican and first Caribbean-born layperson in history to be beatified.

Beautiful historic church! We attended a mass on Feast of San Juan Bautista with a procession following the mass. The mass was in Spanish but a second priest did a homily in English as well. It was a beautiful celebration!

Cathedral Basilica Menor de San Juan – A Must-See Historic Gem The Cathedral Basilica Menor de San Juan is truly breathtaking. Walking inside feels like stepping back in time. I believe it’s also the resting place of a prince, and it’s known as one of the oldest churches in the Americas, which makes the visit even more special. The architecture, history, and quiet atmosphere make it a must-see spot in Old San Juan. We’re really glad we stopped by.

Beautiful church, we were greeted at the front by a friendly woman who gave us a brief history and mass times.

This is the oldest church, built in 1511 and is still structurely sound. Very humbling church ⛪️ a must see while in puerto rico.

Beautiful cathedral originally built in the 16th century in the gothic style which, after a few earthquakes, was rebuilt in the baroque style. The cathedral contains the tomb of Ponce de Leon. Pope John Paul II was here in 1984 after it was designated a minor basilica by Pope John VI in 1978.

Nice little place to look at the craftsmanship it’s free to go to but they would like donations. It worth stopping and looking at it.

Catedral de San Juan Bautista is a must-see while in Old San Juan. The tranquill atmosphere and stunning architecture are captivating. It's a serene place to both admire the beautiful stained glass windows and feel the weight of its long history, particularly when visiting the tomb of Juan Ponce de León. The cathedral is an active place of worship but is very welcoming to visitors, making it a perfect, quick stop during a walk through the city.

This Cathedral is not only one of the oldest building in Old San Juan, but it is also the oldest Cathedral in the U.S. It was built in 1802 and is very beautiful inside. We went to a Saturday evening mass, which was held in Spanish. The front doors to the Cathedral were left wide open in order to keep it cool inside. However, the loud traffic from the streets made it difficult to hear the priest. There is also a gift shop next to the church where you can buy statues, rosaries, and other religious items. I bought two rosaries and the woman was kind enough to get the priest to bless them for me.

As those who follow me know, I love a beautiful church. The Cathedral of San Juan Bautista in Old San Juan is such a church! The church still shows some of the scars from Hurricane Maria in 2017. The church continues to collect donations to repair the damage (mostly to the ceilings and dome). The ceilings are high and magnificent, beautiful altar, side chapels and art work! The explorer Ponce de Leon is entombed there. The church also posses a relic of St. Pius, a 1st century martyr (one of the first) of the Catholic Church, a soldier wrongly executed by the Romans. The altar is breathtaking! There is also a display dedicated to St. John Paul II (one of my favs), with a set of his papal vestments there. For those who want to know, as of the time of this review, there is only one Mass celebrated at the cathedral, Sunday Mornings at 10:00am. A worthwhile visit regardless if you're a Catholic! It is simply a beautiful house of worship, with hundreds of years of history surrounding it it! Highly recommend a visit!

Free to visit. Take only 15 min to finish the trip. The Catedral is not big may be the biggest in San Juan. Interior is all white. Celling has gold trim to make it more decorative. Gold edge flower is on the gold trim. Capacity of the church is not much. It do have nice dome. The side chapel is stone finished. Place to pray and offerings to the cross.

Beautiful place happy to give money to restore.... I went around Christmas and enjoyed seeing th nativity.

Cathedral Basílica Metropolitana de San Juan Bautista. Beautiful Cathedral that stands out along the cobblestone streets. It is one of the oldest buildings in Old San Juan. It is also the resting place of Juan Ponce de León, the Spanish explorer, conquistador, & first governor of Puerto Rico. We were able to walk in off the streets and explore the inside a bit. I will add I am not sure where the tomb is located in the Cathedral but it's there somewhere. I was able to take some amazing pictures and took time to appreciate all the details in all the displays. It was breathtaking and you could feel this calm, comforting energy surrounding you. Regardless of any personal beliefs, or spirituality, if in the area, this would be one of my recommended places to check out. As Puerto Rico is a territory, It makes it the oldest cathedral in the USA.

The Basilica is simply beautiful. It is located in Old San Juan and ids open to the public. Every time we visit we make a point of stopping in to make a prayer and give an offering. The stained glass ids beautiful and the shrines are to some of the most important figures to the pero Rican Community. They have a Shrine to the Patronees of pero Rico, La Providencia. We were able to visit once on Good Friday and enjoyed a packed service. The parking is a bit difficult but you can generally park at one of the garages and walk to the Church.

Old San Juan's venerated cathedral is Puerto Rico's grandest religious building, and one of its most important, and San Juan Bautista is the seat of the Archdiocese of Puerto Rico. it's a can't-miss historic landmark in the heart of the old city The history of the church dates to 1521 and the earliest beginnings of the Spanish colonization of the island. The building you see today wasn't the original church, which was demolished by a hurricane. The current structure dates to 1540. Fact: It's also the second oldest church in the Western Hemisphere, and the oldest church on U.S. soil. Location: The church is located at Calle del Cristo, just across from the beautiful El Convento Hotel.

Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist is a beautiful Catholic cathedral located in Old Town San Juan and represents the historical epi-center of the catholic church in Puerto Rico. This Catholic Cathedral is visually stunning and has many architectural features that you would see in the European "Old World" time period for similar cathedrals to include soaring ornate ceilings, magnificent large archways, beautiful wooden/masonary details throughout the cathedral, ornate paintings, ornate alters and beautiful time period painted wooden statues and wall scenes. This church is centrally located in old town San Juan and can easily be walked too from any point within old town where it was a relatively easy/short walk from the cruise Port that we had arrived in. The beauty of this church as well as its historical importance for this region make it a must see if you are in this area and/or are a member of the Catholic faith. Trust me, regardless of religious affiliation, you don't want to miss this one if you are anywhere near the San Juan area as you will not be disappointed. Five stars for all the beauty/history that this church has to offer!

This is a really nice option for stopping and getting some quiet while in San Juan. The cathedral is beautiful and offers some great historical perspectives of San Juan. It is in the heart of Old San Juan so there is lots to do in the area. One thing that would have been nice would be a tour of some sort. I didn't see anything offered and I think that may have given a better historical perspective than what I could just read on the walls.

First, I want to mention that I am not Catholic, however I am a sucker for history. I was going to visit PR and saw an article that mentioned the "Second Oldest Cathedral In The Americas" was in Viejo San Juan. I was dying to visit. When you walk in, you can feel the presence of everyone that has stepped foot here, hear every voice that has spoken here, and you can see glorious beauty that has been seen for hundreds of years. When you walk by the pews, you have the urge to pray - the Holy Spirit truly enters you here. As you turn the corners and see others in prayer, you can't help but wonder how many people have prayed, been wed, and baptized here. It's an experience that can only be felt by really being there, another bucket list item, checked.

Beautiful cathedral in Old San Juan. It's easily walkable from anywhere in the old town and is not air conditioned. Masses are in Spanish. High arched ceilings, dignified paintings, old world statues, majestic altar. This Catholic Church is worth your time to visit while in the area. I believe it is open everyday during daytime for visitation.

We stopped in here while wandering around Old San Juan on foot. Apparently, it is considered the oldest cathedral in the United States. From the outside, it looks quite plain, but on the inside, it is quite colorful. The ceilings and stainerd glass windows are quite intricate looking. Considering the admission is free, there is no reason not to stop inside at least for a quick glance.

Catedral Metropolitana Basílica de San Juan Bautista is a truly wonderful and historic cathedral. Most significant to me is that within it is the tomb of Ponce de Leon who died in 1521. Though others refer to it as the oldest second oldest cathedral in the New World, the establishment date of 1521 may be correct, but this isn't that cathedral as that one was destroyed by fire. It would be more accurate to say that this building as a structure only dates back to 1917. And when you're told it is or was the second oldest church structure in the New World, I'd say though transplanted, the Ancient Spanish Monastery dating back to the year 1133 located on Dixie Highway in North Miami seems to have that record. However nothing can detract from the fact that this is truly a magnificent structure and a site well worth a visit.

Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist, is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico. The cathedral is one of the oldest buildings in San Juan, located in Old San Juan, the oldest cathedral in the United States, and is the second oldest cathedral in the Americas. The original cathedral was constructed from wood in 1521. It was destroyed by a hurricane and the current structure constructed in 1540, being reshaped in later centuries, the last time being in 1917. This church has a long history but the present structure as of now is only around 100 years old. Visiting is free! I definitely suggest to drop by for a visit and of course take all the photographs you want. The cathedral contains the tomb of the Spanish explorer and settlement founder Juan Ponce de León. It also has a shrine to the Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago, the first Puerto Rican, the first Caribbean-born layperson in history to be beatified.

A beautiful church in Old San Juan to explore. Simple beauty that holds so many statues, pictures, carvings, and artful biblical scenes to view as you wander through. It's a basic church of it's age and area of the world, but architecturally it features some beautiful structures. From the religious artifacts, to the stained glass, and even a shrine to Puerto Rico's first saint. There are multiple shrines here, and the tomb of Ponce de Leon too. So cool and it's free to enter and wander around. A must visit and worth spending some time in if visiting Old San Juan.

This church is absolutely breathtaking. I loved being in a church that had so much history. I still haven't been outside the US so to be in a 500 year old church was amazing (although another Yelper mentioned that the church is only 100 years old, I have a hard time believing that and you will too if you've been here. Since I don't read Spanish I can't totally confirm or deny). This church is one of the biggest I've been in. What I really loved about it were all of the worship spaces off to the sides. (I know I'm Catholic and what I'm describing probably has its own name, but I have no idea what it is). But essentially, there are pews in front of the main altar and they go far back towards the entrance. Normal looking church, right? Well this church has about a few areas to the left and a few to the right where it's either it's own mini-chapel (with pews facing towards) or just an area with something special for you to discover and spend time in prayer. That's what I loved most about it. It was like a discovery church where every corner you turned was something new. There was an area dedicated to Mary and she looked pristine. I loved the way the area was lit to make her look so majestic. I imagine that's what she shines like in Heaven. :) There is also the burial of Ponce de Leon, which was cool to see (that alone is also from the 1500s...which again makes me say that this church has to be closer to 500 years old than 100). There was also the relic of San Pio (St. Pius). I was so excited to see this because I haven't seen a relic of this size before. I was so happy that they had the story of San Pio in English so that I could read it. (Please note that although it is his full body, it is encased in ceramic, so you're not seeing his actual un-decayed body, if that makes sense.) Just so many places to pray and take everything in. It is just amazing. I loved being in a old church like that. Makes me feel like I need to get to Europe ASAP! Only reason why I didn't put 5 stars is because with the exception of San Pio's story, I couldn't read anything as it was all in Spanish. Not that it shouldn't be! I know that is the main language of the island. I just wish they had things written in English too (or even pamphlets up front with English writing of the significance of each area). I just love history and to think I missed out on so much because I couldn't read it was disappointing (guess I better get used to that if I go to Europe, right?!). Also, just a heads up that they have built a lot of fans in here, but given the age of the church, there is no central AC (which makes it hot when sightseeing alone...SUPER hot if you were there for Mass). All in all, a must see on your time in San Juan. I'm so happy I went out of my way to come here. It was totally worth it and if anything, I wish I would have had more time in this beautiful church!

We wanted to walk around Old Towne during our shore visit from our ship and the Cathedral was a must see. It was a nice stroll up from the ship and well worth the time. There is history everywhere you look. The statues on the side altars were amazing and just as I thought they should be from the period. Photo opps abound. Take the time to walk around and see all the sides altars. The wooden baptism font is incredible. Due to the age there is a lot of repair going on so you won't see a bright shining church. Just try to understand what's going on and what the parishioners are having to endure.

The Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico, and the oldest cathedral in the United States. Founded in 1511 and opened in 1540, highlights include the tomb of Juan Ponce de León and restored architecture.

If you are visiting San Juan and plan on checking Viejo San Juan (Old San Juan), I recommend checking out the Catedral Metropolitana Basilica de San Juan Bautista. First off, if you are a traveler on a budget, it's free to go inside. You can see its gorgeous architecture, stained glass windows, and religious artifacts. Secondly, the cathedral has historical significance as one of the oldest cathedrals on the western hemisphere. Also, Ponce de Leon's tomb is there, as well as a shrine to the first ever Puerto Rican saint. Thirdly, in terms of everyday life of people in the area, specifically Puerto Rican Catholics, this is the cathedral for the diocese, where the bishop runs the administration of the entire church district (all the parishes and churches within that area). It won't take you long to visit this landmark, so put it on your to-do list while in San Juan.

This is a beautiful street located in Old San Juan. Located in the south west end of the city, it is among the most touristy areas. It is very easy to find, and free to enter. There was no service going on during the day which was nice. I felt as though I could explore the church without interrupting (unlike Notre Dame in France which always has a service it seems). This church has great architecture - white and clean. The center has a beautiful dome roof. I would say it's worth checking out if you are in and around Old San Juan and like the beauty of old, well crafted churches. If you want to see my video of this location, please visit my YouTube page at "Josh the Travel Guy" The exact name of the video is "Travel VLOG 2017 | Day 5 | Part 2 | Old San Juan | Catedral de San Juan Bautista | Puerto Rico" Hope to see you there!