CUARTEL DE BALLAJÁ

There are few buildings this large in Old San Juan. And for good reason: located in front of the Castillo San Felipe del Morro, the Cuartel de Ballajá was built from 1854 to 1864 to house the Spanish and Puerto Rican regiments, it could accommodate up to a thousand people, mainly soldiers and their families. A chapel was added in 1881. After the invasion of the American army in 1898, the Cuartel de Ballajá was occupied until 1936. During the Second World War, the building was used as a hospital. In 1976, the Cuartel de Ballajá was returned to the Puerto Rican government. The structure was left more or less abandoned until 1992. As part of the commemoration of 500 years of exchanges between Europeans and the indigenous peoples of the Americas, Ricardo Alegría - a famous Puerto Rican archaeologist - proposed to rehabilitate the building and turn it into a museum dedicated to the Americas. Built on three floors, the building is distinguished by its imposing entrance and exit doors, spacious interior courtyard, large balconies and wide arcades. It is the last great architectural project built by the Spaniards in the New World. Today it houses the Museo de las Américas, a dance and music school, the Puerto Rican Spanish Language Academy, the State Office of Historic Preservation, as well as a very famous café (Don Ruiz) and restaurant (Rincón Ibérico). Cuartel de Ballajá is worth a visit, at least for a coffee break and some beautiful graphic photos.