Locomotora La Negra Cocola de la Hacienda Dolores, Peñuelas /Efra
South April-2005, By:Travel and Sports Staff
Experience the Southern Style
Ponce: Pearl of the South, Patillas, Peñuelas
The southern experience offers mountains and beaches as well as major cultural and historic attractions. At the shoreline, the coastal towns of Guayanilla, Ponce, Santa Isabel, Salinas, Arroyo and Patillas stretch out along sandy white beaches where you can enjoy waterfront restaurants and stunningly beautiful coastal forests. The interior towns of Yauco, Peñuelas, Juana Díaz, Coamo and Guayama developed as agricultural communities based in large part on the old sugar industry. Of course the whole area is anchored by Ponce, the Pearl of the South.
Ponce
"Ponce is Ponce" is a famous saying that involves pride, history and tradition. Named after Juan Ponce de León, the Island’s first governor, the city was founded in 1692 by Ponce de León’s great-grandson. Today Ponce is the second largest city on the Island and a major contributor to the political, social, economic, and cultural development of Puerto Rico. Ponce is known as "La Perla del Sur" (the Pearl of the South) and the "Ciudad Señorial" (the Noble City) because of its beautiful facades, neoclassical architecture and European touch.
Ponce is strategically located in the Cordillera Central foothills, to the west of the Llano Costanero del Sur (South Plain Coast), facing the Caribbean Sea and approximately in the center of the south coast. In its early days, this strategic location acted as a magnet for immigrants. People from England, France, Italy, Germany and Spain came to develop an international city that to this day maintains its rich African heritage. The African personality, beliefs and music add colorful flavor and rhythm to Ponce's culture. Part of this is the "bomba" and "plena" rhythms, a combination of African and Caribbean musical influence.
Patillas
Known as the "Emerald of the South" because of the green mountains and the color of the sun’s reflection off the cultivated fields, Patillas was originally named after the "patilla" fruit (watermelon). Today Patillas is a well-known grape-growing region where private plantations like Hacienda Córsega produce and sell grapes to the U.S.A. for wine production. In the town, take a look at the Parroquia Inmaculado Corazón de María. It was built in 1845, destroyed during the San Felipe hurricane, and then rebuilt in 1930. The nearby Carite Forest and recreational area has a small river that forms a natural pool called Charco Azul that is very popular among the locals.
Peñuelas
Peñuelas was founded on August 25, 1793. The town is known as "La Capital del Güiro" and "El Valle de los Flamboyanes." The “güiro” is a local instrument made of the “higüera tree.” It is a gourd similar in shape to a banana. The güiro is an important part of the Island’s folklore and culture, since it plays an essential part in the music of Puerto Rico. For a small taste of that culture, you can visit the town at La Fiesta Nacional del Güiro. During the festivities you can enjoy the Troubadour Contest, food kiosks, artists and artisans. On the Plaza de Recreo, you will find the Parroquia San José de Peñuelas. Also on the plaza is the "Locomotora La Negra Cocola." This historic locomotive was used to transport sugarcane.
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South Article Archive
2007-04 Explore the South, Porta Caribe
2005-08 Ponce, Coamo, Salinas
2005-06 Guayama, Arroyo, Santa Isabel
2005-04 Ponce: Pearl of the South, Patillas, Peñuelas
2005-02 Ponce, Coamo, Yauco
2004-12 Ponce, Juana Díaz, Guayanilla
2004-08 Juana Díaz, Salinas
2004-06 Santa Isabel, Guayama, Ponce
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