10 Churches & Cathedrals in Puerto Rico That You Shouldn't Miss

The First Baptist Church of Caguas was founded in 1900 with the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel, discipling and worshiping God, as well as developing social action programs in the community. Their mission is to create a space where God's name is glorified and disciples are free to grow, feeling and sharing God's love. The church is considered a lovely example of Romanesque Revival architecture.

The former convent chapel, built in 1606, is the second oldest church in Puerto Rico, the first school in the west and one of the oldest in the Americas. It is also the most important religious art museum of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture.

Maybe you won't notice the Santa Ana church at once, probably because it sits between two buildings, and it is shadowed by the art Deco-styled Banco Popular. However, this pink little church is one of the oldest and most intimate religious spaces in Old San Juan. Once you're inside, you'll notice how small this church is. Santa Ana is barely decorated, but its white walls and arches scintillate beautifully with the light reflected from the windowpanes above. Furthermore, the soft, rhythmical murmur of several prayers combined has the elating effect of making us feel connected to divinity. Dating back to the 17th Century, this church has two bell towers, and five niches on its facade for the statues of some of the apostles. According to historian Maria de los Angeles Castro, the Santa Ana church might have been decorated with paintings made by Jose Campeche, the most renowned Puerto Rican artist from the late 1700s. [1] Moreover, the Santa Ana church still offers the Latin rites. Justo detras de la sede al estilo art deco del Banco Popular, se encuentra la ermita de Santa Ana, una de las iglesias mas antiguas y sencillas del Viejo San Juan, edificada con toda probabilidad durante el siglo XVII. Su fachada rosada con pilastras blancas tiende a pasar desapercibida, puesto que se encuentra entre otros edificios de la calle Tetuan. No obstante, esta iglesia es uno de los lugares religiosos mas intimos del Viejo San Juan. Una vez adentro, veras que se trata de una iglesia diminuta--nada como la espaciosa catedral. No obstante, es perfecta para sentirse en proximidad con lo divino. La luz que inunda el transepto y se refleja en los muros blancos tiene el poder de provocar la sensacion de serenidad. A la vez, el ritmico murmullo de quienes rezan profundiza ese sosiego hasta convertirlo en una experiencia espiritual de gran introspeccion. Claro esta, uno de los efectos mas marcados que tiene esta iglesia sobre los que en ella se congregan es que la mente, en lugar de volcarse hacia el ruido del mundo exterior, se enfoca en aquello que llevamos dentro. Ademas, la iglesia Santa Ana aun ofrece misas en latin. [1] San Juan Oculto: La ciudad antigua desde otras miradas. Bayamon: Fundacion San Marin de Porres, 2013

Right in the center of Ponce's Historic Zone is the Cathedral Our Lady of Guadalupe, better known as Ponce Cathedral. The building ads up around 300 years of history, going through many changes in its lifetime. This opened the path to become an official historic site in 1984. The prestige it has gained over the years has earned it much love from the residents, and on certain holidays, thousands of people set off to attend the ceremony at this neo-classical church.