Puerto Rico

A tapestry of colonization, struggle, and cultural fusion spans centuries in Puerto Rico’s past. Before Columbus landed in 1493 and sparked Spanish conquest and colonization, the island was populated by indigenous Tano communities. A prime example of the island’s rise to prominence as a commercial and strategic center is the city of San Juan, which was founded there in 1508. For centuries, the Spanish ruled Puerto Rico, leaving their mark on the island and its culture.