The tiled front
Above the city.
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Castillo Serrallés is a large mansion on a hill above central Ponce, built in the 1930s for Juan Eugenio Serrallés, son of the founder of the distillery that bears the family name. Today it is a museum on the sugar cane industry and its effect on Puerto Rico's economy, surrounded by very well kept gardens. It stands on about one hectare and joined the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and the Puerto Rico register in 2001. The city of Ponce bought it from the heirs for only US$400,000, though it was valued at many millions, and the sale included much of the furniture. In 1996 it appeared in an American TV series about castles. From below you see a pale building with red tile roofs and small towers, above gardens stepping down the hill. Arches and terraces stand out, while the halls hold old furniture and displays on sugar cane. The garden gives a wide view over the city to the sea, and the same hill holds other city landmarks. It is about a kilometre in a straight line from central Ponce, but the climb is steep, so a car or taxi suits best. Check tour times before you go, as it may close for events and weddings. The view is best in the morning or just before sunset. Bring a hat and water, as the gardens are exposed, and ask before taking pictures inside.
Above the city.
Very well kept.
To the sea.
El Vigía Hill, Ponce, southern Puerto Rico
It is a 1930s mansion known as a castle.
By car or taxi, as the climb is steep.
