Luquillo (loo-KEE-yo) is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the northeast coast, northwest of Fajardo; and east of Rio Grande. Luquillo is spread over 5 wards and Luquillo Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).
Driving Distance from San Juan: 23.3 miles *
Driving Time from San Juan: 45 minutes *
History
Luquillo is known as "La Capital del Sol" (sun capital) and "La Riviera de Puerto Rico" (Puerto Rico's riviera). Luquillo was founded in 1797 by Cristóbal Guzmán. The town was named after the Indian cacique Loquillo, who died a few years after the last Indian rebellion in 1513.
Flag
It consists of three horizontal stripes, the blue top and green bottom are double of width of the yellow central stripe. Blue makes reference to the sky and the sea; yellow represents the sand of its beaches and green represents the vegetation of the mountains. In the center stripe resides the Coat Of Arms of the town superimposed and surrounded by two palm tree leaves crossed at the bottom.
Coat of Arms
In a gold background a centered mountain range with three green mountains is accompanied at the bottom by a bay with blue and silver waves; the top portion of the shield in blue, has three iris branches. Above the shield resides a three tower gold crown. Surrounding the shield by its flanks are two palms trees leaves crossed at the bottom.
Demographics
Barrios (Districts/Wards)
Juan Martín
Mameyes I
Mata de Plátano
Pitahaya
Sabana
Economic
Agriculture
Cattle
Industrial
Manufacturing
Tourism
If you stay on the coastal highway going east from San Juan, you'll soon reach Luquillo Beach. This huge plantation of majestic coconut palms shades more than a mile of fine and shimmering sand. It is one of the most popular and nicest public beaches in the San Juan area. It offers cafeterias, public bathrooms with showers, access for disabled people, and an ample parking lot. Monserrate Beach is one of the public beaches most frequented by the locals.
Landmarks and places of interest
- Chief Loquillo Monument
- La Fortuna Hacienda
- La Bandera Beach
- La Monserrate Beach
- La Pared Beach
- Las Pailas Beach
- Luquillo Beach
- Mameyes Beach
- Ocean View Boulevard
Festivals and events
- Patron Saint Celebrations - March
- Coconut Festival - September
- Typical Dish Festival - December
Notable "Luquillenses"
- Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón (1855- 1913) - Lawyer and legislator.
- Tomás Batista (1935- ) - Considered to be Puerto Rico's greatest sculptor.
Luquillo, Puerto Rico. (2006, October 3). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18:41, October 30, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Luquillo%2C_Puerto_Rico&oldid=79227690
