Brief History of San Germán, Puerto Rico - Encircle Photos

Brief History of San Germán, Puerto Rico

The origin of San Germán dates back to 1511, making it Puerto Rico’s second oldest city. Its namesake is Germaine of Foix, the second wife of Ferdinand II of Aragon, the Catholic King of Castile and León. After frequent attacks by pirates, the settlement was moved to the Santa Marta Hills in 1573. Although the Spanish called it Nueva Villa de Salamanca – a tribute to a city in northwestern Spain – the locals refused to adopt the name. During the balance of the Spanish colonization, San Germán was the capital of the island’s southern partido (partition) while San Juan was the northern capital. The city’s coat of arms symbolizes its major historical influences.

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