Lecture ‘San Juan, Puerto Rico: Five Centuries of History and Heritage’, presented by Miguel A. Romero Lugo, Mayor of San Juan (Puerto Rico), as part of the series ‘History and Heritage Cities of Ibero-America’.
This lecture offers a journey through the historical evolution of one of the most emblematic cities of the Hispanic Caribbean. Through an analysis of its origins, its urban development, and its strategic role in the Atlantic network of the Spanish monarchy, the talk will explore the main milestones that have shaped the historical and cultural identity of San Juan over more than five centuries, since its founding in 1521.
Furthermore, the lecture will address the city’s rich heritage as a result of multiple historical, social, and cultural processes that have shaped its character and collective memory. From fortifications and colonial urban planning to contemporary dynamics of conservation and revitalization of the historic center, the focus will be on the challenges and opportunities of preserving this heritage within the Ibero-American context.
Through diverse perspectives, the presentation will allow for reflection on the relationship between history, citizenship, and heritage, as well as on the value of historic cities as spaces where past and present meet. In dialogue with other Ibero-American urban experiences, the conference will offer a broad view of the historical development of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and its current role as a cultural and historical benchmark in the Atlantic and Latin American sphere.
Welcome:
– León de la Torre, Director General of Casa de América.
– Fernando Prieto, Secretary General of the Spain-U.S. Council Foundation.
Conference:
– Miguel A. Romero Lugo, Mayor of San Juan (Puerto Rico).
Moderator: Nuria López, International Journalist for El Mundo.
Organized by:
Casa de América and the Spain-USA Council Foundation
Date and time:
Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
Ambassadors’ Hall, Casa de América, Madrid (Plaza de la Cibeles, s/n, Madrid)
Free admission until capacity is reached.
