San Germán, Puerto Rico

San Germán is the name of a city in south-west Puerto Rico, near Mayagüez and Cabo Rojo.

Related Topics:
Puerto Rico - Mayagüez - Cabo Rojo

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There is evidence that the city of San Germán existed as far back as 1582. A letter sent back then to Spain's king Phillip II talked about a city with the alternative names of Nueva Salamanca and San Germán. Spanish conquerors used the name Nueva Salamanca to honor the city of Salamanca in Spain. San German is the second oldest city of Puerto Rico, after San Juan. The island of Puerto Rico was once split between the San Juan part and the San German part. The latter extended from a line from Arecibo in the north to Ponce in the south, westward to the sea.

Related Topics:
1582 - Spain - Phillip II - Salamanca

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San Germán is famous as the site of the Porta Coeli church, one of the first built in Latin America in a Spanish style. The Porta Coeli is still a major attraction that brings both domestic and international tourists every year.

Related Topics:
Porta Coeli - Latin America

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San Germán has only one professional sports team, BSN's San Germán Athletics. Nicknamed either El monstruo anaranjado (The orange monster, in reference to their uniform) or Los nenes, San Germán's basketball team has been one of the most successful in Puerto Rican basketball history, winning thirteen championships. From 1955 to 1985 the Atleticos did not win a championship. But the 1985 team, helped by Jose Ortiz, beat the Guaynabo Mets in six games to win the national title, and, at the same time, helped San Germán revitalize its economy by making many Puerto Ricans outside San Germán aware of the city.

Related Topics:
BSN - San Germán Athletics - Basketball - Puerto Rican - 1955 - 1985 - Jose Ortiz - Guaynabo Mets

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