The romantic Paseo de la Princesa dates back to 1853 and is one of the most beautiful promenades on the island. Along the Paseo, you'll find street performers, food vendors, and La Princesa, once a prison and now the headquarters for the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. The Paseo ends at the Raíces Fountain, a sculptural celebration of Puerto Rico's Taíno, African and Spanish heritage. If you're here on a weekend, check out the Artisan's Fair where you'll find Puerto Rican folk art of all types.

The San Juan Gate is a 40-foot-tall doorway, the last remaining of the original five gates carved into the three-mile wall that once surrounded the city. Built in the late 1700s, the gate reflects Puerto Rico's Catholic roots and was named after the Catholic Saint John the Baptist. Once you've walked through the gate, keep an eye out for a local piragua seller and enjoy this refreshing, tropical treat!

One of the most beautiful and secluded monuments in Old San Juan is Christ Chapel. Built in 1753, it celebrated a miracle - the near-impossible survival of a young rider who lost control of his horse and plunged down the cliff to the rocks below. In the centuries since, thousands of people have come to pray at this tiny chapel. It is only open on Tuesdays and religious holidays.

El Parque de las Palomas is located next to Christ Chapel and offers gorgeous views of the Bay of San Juan. Local vendors sell birdseed, allowing anyone who comes to feed the hundreds of local birds. You may spot sculpted bronze shoes throughout the park. They commemorate the first female mayor of San Juan, Felisa Rincon de Gautier, and Rafael Hernandez Colon, a former governor of Puerto Rico - both provided shoes to the poor who could not afford them.

Built in 1540, La Fortaleza was the first defensive fortification for the city of San Juan and became the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico after being remodeled as a mansion in 1846. It has since served more than 170 of Puerto Rico's governors in that capacity. Thirty-minute guided walking tours are available Monday through Friday between 8:15 am and 3:30 pm.

Named in honor of King Philip II of Spain, Fort San Felipe del Morro is a citadel that towers over San Juan Bay. Construction on El Morro, as it's commonly known, began in 1539 and was completed 251 years later in 1790. The fort's lighthouse, which was fired upon by United States Navy during the Spanish-American War, was later restored. Today, El Morro is a favorite spot for tourists to pose with the fort's canons and relax after a day of shopping and sightseeing.

The Save-A-Gato Cat Sanctuary is run by the Save-A-Gato nonprofit. Their goal is to protect and care for the cat colonies that live around the Paseo del Morro and near La Fortaleza. They do this through a strategy of trapping, neutering, and vaccinating stray cats and then returning them to their original colonies. Their volunteers also provide fresh food and water to the animals and monitor colony populations.

Originally built for Spanish soldiers and their families, the Ballajá Barracks can house 1,000 people. The barracks were once bombarded by the United States during the Spanish-American War. They were later were repaired and lodged U.S. soldiers until 1939. Today, the building houses restaurants and important cultural organizations like the Museum of the Americas.