Casa Blanca

Casa Blanca was built in 1521 for Juan Ponce de León, who died before he could move in, and his descendants then lived here for around two and a half centuries, which makes it the oldest continuously occupied residence in the Americas. It began as a fortified house, the island's first defensive structure, before the forts were built, and grew over the centuries into a rambling complex of thick walls and shaded rooms around courtyards. Later it housed Spanish and then American military commanders. The gardens step down toward the bay in terraces with fountains fed by an old spring, and they are among the quietest places in the old city.

What you actually see

• The house itself - the oldest continuously occupied residence in the Americas.
• The terraced gardens - stepping down toward the bay with old fountains.
• The period rooms - furnished to show sixteenth to nineteenth-century life.
• The views over the bay - from the terraces on the north side.

When to go

December to April is the comfortable season. The gardens are best in the morning, when they are shaded and cool. It closes on Mondays and some public holidays, and hours have changed after storm repairs, so check before walking up.

Honest expectations

The house has been closed for long stretches for repairs in recent years, sometimes with only the gardens open, so confirm before making the trip. Interpretation is limited and mostly in Spanish. It is a steep walk up from the waterfront.

Nearby

El Morro is five minutes uphill; the cathedral and Calle del Cristo are just east.