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city's port, raising different flags to either notify local merchants of incoming trade ships or alert military authorities of possible threats (a replica of this wooden cross now sits behind the current monument). Originally a hut was built accompanied by a cross from where flags were raised to signal the approach of ships as well as their port of origin. This station was run by two brothers
Ricardo and Alberto Lugo, they were honored with a plaque at the base of the cross in 1984. They are descendants of Alonso Fernández de Lugo last conquistador of Spain.
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The cross sits at the same spot on Cerro del Vigía where early settlers once looked out for merchant ships and would-be invaders, including marauding pirates. In 1801, the settlers built a much smaller cross made of two intersecting tree trunks where an observer would constantly watch the sea and the
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One of the best remembered watchmen was named Luis Castro. Nearly 200 years ago, Luis would sit atop a huge wooden cross on this hill. On the lookout for ocean vessels, it was his responsibility to determine the nationality of approaching ships. If he recognized the vessel he would raise a flag, but
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One of many landmarks of the city of Ponce, the cross is owned by the
Municipality of Ponce and is currently operated by the "Patronato de Ponce", a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the city's cultural heritage. It is visited annually by some 100,000 tourists.
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In recent years, a
Japanese Garden was built in the grounds nearby the Cruceta. The garden is located in a 2,223 square meter ground. Its purpose is to encourage spiritual peace and harmony by the means of nature and
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401:. It houses a tourist center at its base, a ten-story vertical tower, and a horizontal sky bridge that has panoramic views of the city of Ponce and the
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The structured was managed by the
Municipality of Ponce until 1995 when, under a public-nonprofit agreement, it came to be administered by the
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Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 September 2010. Page 11. Year 28, Number 1399. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
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was built in honor of Castro and all the other watchmen who so faithfully helped protect the city during its younger years.
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if a ship was thought to be carrying contraband then no flag was raised and the
Spanish military would investigate. The
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The Cerro del Vigía also served as a refugee camp for citizens during the storm of 12 September 1738, the
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View of the cross at night. The city of Ponce shines in the background below the hill. The
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Published in Ponce, Puerto Rico. 2011. Printed in
Colombia by Nomos Impresores. p. 201.
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Neysa
Rodriguez Deynes, Editor. Ponce, Puerto Rico: Professional Editions. 2018. p.75.
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389:(English: The Watchman Cross) is a 100 feet (30 m) tall cross located atop
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Sandra Scott. Central and South
America. 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
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El
Turismo Cultural en Ponce durante el Plan Ponce en Marcha, 1900-2000.
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409:. The arms of the cross measure 70 feet. It was inaugurated in 1984.
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Caen los donativos: Peligra el destino del
Castillo Serrallés.
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Tall cross located atop Cerro del Vigía in Ponce, Puerto Rico
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La Cruceta del Vigía / Cross Watchtower, Ponce, Puerto Rico
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Site dedicated to El Vigia Cross and the Serralles Castle
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El Vocero. San Juan. Puerto Rico. 24 March 1983. Page 50.
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Religious buildings and structures completed in 1984
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710:http://lugocrest.homestead.com/lugocrossponce.html
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465:music. The garden features small lakes, rivers,
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565:Cruceta del Vigia Museum. Information posters.
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498:Cruceta del Vigía in Ponce seen at a distance
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1222:Panteón Nacional Román Baldorioty de Castro
599:Ponce, Puerto Rico: The Pearl of the South.
445:, the tsunami of 18 November 1867, and the
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1422:Parque Familiar Julio Enrique Monagas
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1480:Hospital Oncológico Andrés Grillasca
1212:Museo del Autonomismo Puertorriqueño
541:Construirán Ponce La Cruz del Vigia.
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1759:1984 establishments in Puerto Rico
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379:http://www.castilloserralles.org/
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1207:Museo de la Arquitectura Ponceña
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1524:Pontificia Universidad Católica
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278:Steel and Reinforced concrete
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1298:Feria de Artesanías de Ponce
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1187:Museo de la Masacre de Ponce
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1177:Museo Hacienda Buena Vista
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425:View of Cruceta del Vigía.
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265:70 feet (21 m) across
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733:18.0189861°N 66.6201833°W
675:Retrieved April 24, 2010.
662:By CastilloSeralles.org (
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50:is further to the right.
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299:Design and construction
161:18.0189861; -66.6201833
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1402:Parque de la Abolición
1162:Museo Parque de Bombas
1157:Museo de Arte de Ponce
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417:Historical background
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1509:Caribbean University
1379:Teatro Vicente Murga
1313:Día Mundial de Ponce
1217:Museo Biblioteca RHC
252:110 feet (34 m)
188:Construction started
1744:1984 in Puerto Rico
1534:PUCPR School of Law
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1361:Teatro Fox Delicias
1303:Ponce Jazz Festival
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81:Architectural style
60:General information
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1442:Plaza Las Delicias
1407:Parque de la Ceiba
1365:Ponce Towne Center
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671:2006-07-21 at the
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1270:Solace by the Sea
1197:Museo del Deporte
1119:Guardia Costanera
621:978-1-64131-139-7
452:of 25 July 1898.
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344:Quantity surveyor
328:Services engineer
312:Architecture firm
275:Structural system
270:Technical details
35:Cruceta del Vigía
16:(Redirected from
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403:Caribbean Sea
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144:18°01′08.35″N
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1708:Monte Jayuya
1670:San Patricio
1496:Universities
1275:Caribe Hotel
1109:Isla Cardona
1015:San Patricio
905:Canas Urbano
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339:Axel Bonilla
304:Architect(s)
113:Town or city
29:
1255:Hotel Meliá
1079:Las Salinas
920:Coto Laurel
848:Attractions
736: /
368:Lighted Lot
283:Floor count
212:Inaugurated
159: /
134:Coordinates
127:Puerto Rico
1728:Categories
1577:Morrillito
1447:La Guancha
1333:Las Justas
1134:Ensenadita
1099:La Guancha
1089:El Malecón
910:Capitanejo
804:Government
664:In Spanish
528:References
407:hurricanes
257:Dimensions
87:arch style
1680:Mountains
1660:Portugués
1630:Cerrillos
1457:Hospitals
1010:San Antón
1005:Sabanetas
975:Portugués
930:Guaraguao
915:Cerrillos
843:Landmarks
799:Geography
794:Education
789:Buildings
223:$ 650,000
196:Completed
1655:Pastillo
1645:Jacaguas
1635:Chiquito
1348:Theaters
1129:Carrucho
1114:Pelícano
1069:El Tuque
955:Maragüez
945:Magueyes
821:Timeline
669:Archived
576:Mi Vida.
450:invasion
447:American
92:Location
76:Monument
1650:Matilde
1610:Bayagán
1562:Ratones
1557:Cardona
1549:Islands
1149:Museums
1061:Beaches
1030:Tercero
1020:Segundo
985:Primero
960:Marueño
882:Barrios
870:Streets
860:Airport
838:Tourism
816:History
473:Gallery
467:bonsais
436:Cruceta
373:Website
365:Parking
123:Country
103:Address
95:Barrio
1665:Prieto
1640:Inabón
1620:Bucaná
1615:Blanco
1597:Rivers
1587:Jueyes
1285:Events
1232:Hotels
1124:Blanca
995:Quinto
925:Cuarto
895:Bucaná
833:Sports
828:People
809:Mayors
619:
582:
244:Height
228:Client
204:Opened
85:Modern
65:Status
1625:Canas
1582:Gatas
1394:Parks
1139:Larga
1040:Vayas
1035:Tibes
1025:Sexto
970:Playa
900:Canas
865:Roads
504:Notes
236:Owner
117:Ponce
1605:Anón
1567:Frío
1000:Real
890:Anón
617:ISBN
580:ISBN
220:Cost
215:1984
207:1984
199:1984
191:1983
183:1983
73:Type
68:Open
463:Zen
393:in
294:One
249:Tip
1730::
590:^
548:^
286:10
770:e
763:t
756:v
666:)
520:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
