Caparra Archaeological Site

Caparra is an archaeological site containing the remains of Caparra, the first European settlement in the main island of Puerto Rico. Located in the municipality of Guaynabo on the grounds of the Museo y Parque Histórico Ruinas de Caparra (Original Residence of Juan Ponce de León), it is centered around the foundations of the residence of Juan Ponce de León, the first European conquistador and governor of Puerto Rico, who established the settlement as the capital of Puerto Rico in 1508. It is a U.S. National Historic Landmark, as it represents the oldest known European settlement in the United States.

Caparra, also known by its settlers as Ciudad de Puerto Rico ("City of Rich Port"), was founded in the southern side of San Juan Bay. However, the settlement was overwhelmed with health, defense, logistical, and communication difficulties due to its low-lying, swampy terrain. In 1521, to facilite the development of the settlement, it was reestablished on the nearby San Juan Islet in the northern side of San Juan Bay under the name of San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico (Saint John Baptist of Rich Port), present day the Old San Juan historic quarter in the capital municipality of San Juan.