The Ateneo Puertorriqueño was established in 1876 as a cultural institution. Their mission is to advance science, literature and fine arts. The Puerto Rican Athenaeum still lives that mission by offering a museum and library. It also sponsors programs for the performing arts. This impressive structure in the Capital District opened in 1932 based on the drawings of Franciso Roldán. The building displays several features of Moorish design called Mudéjar. These include a colonnade of horseshoe arches. The patterned ceramic mosaic over the entrance is called a zellige.
