Landmarks and places of interest The Arecibo Harbor is managed by the
Puerto Rico Ports Authority. Arecibo is one of the oldest
colonial towns in
Puerto Rico (1616). Among its historic buildings is the
Cathedral of Saint Philip the Apostle, built beginning in the late 18th century. The first church, built in the middle of the 17th century, was destroyed by an
earthquake in 1787. Construction of its replacement began soon after, although it was not completed until 1846. Four days after its dedication, another earthquake seriously damaged it. Repairs were not completed until 1882. The
1918 earthquake damaged the vault so badly that it was replaced by a flat concrete roof; a vaulted ceiling of composition board was placed inside. The cathedral of Arecibo is Puerto Rico's second-largest church after the
Cathedral of San Juan. The plan is rectangular with three
naves; the side naves are cut short to allow large flanking chapels, which occupy almost half the length of the church. The
apse is semicircular, and has an unusual half-dome covering it. The facade is a triangular composition of three stages. The top stage, a short central tower, is a later addition, according to local architects and historians.
Neoclassic ornamentation is used in an academic fashion on the lowest stage, but the other two show a less traditional use of bands and
pilasters. The Renaissance-style windows are uncommon in Puerto Rican churches, but the central tower over the entrance is a common motif used throughout the island. The
City Hall, built in 1866, served as jail to revolutionaries of
El Grito de Lares in 1868. In the 1918 earthquake, the frontal section of the building was destroyed. When repairs were made, a tower and clock were added to the building. In 1978, the building was restored to its original form. The City Hall of Arecibo is typical of these regional seats of government. It is relatively modest in size, of stuccoed masonry, with an academically correct composition, having a pedimented center pavilion which projects slightly. The lower story is rusticated, with arched openings; the three doorways in the center giving the effect of a
loggia. The upper windows all have segmental pediments and balconies; the central trio share one long balcony. Architectural detailing is modest, but the building is graceful and charming. In 1898 the
Spaniards built the
Punta Los Morrillos Lighthouse. It was automated in 1964 and is still in use. A small park, Arecibo Lighthouse and Historical Park, has been established around it. The
Arecibo Observatory was the home of
Arecibo Telescope, once the largest single-aperture radio telescope ever constructed and one of the world's most powerful radar-radio telescopes. The observatory's purpose was to support scientific studies. It attracted several
Hollywood directors who have filmed there; most recently
GoldenEye and
Contact. The radio telescope was used in 1974 to send the
Arecibo message to space. The already damaged telescope totally collapsed in 2020. Casa Ulanga was originally a residence built by Spanish immigrant Francisco Ulanga, and has served multiple uses over the years. It was used as a bank, store, city hall of Arecibo, hospital, jail, tribunal, and is now operated as the Arecibo Cultural Center. is an
archeological site where
Taíno drawings can be found. The "
Birth of the New World" is a statue depicting
Christopher Columbus and is located in
Islote, Arecibo. . The statue is the work of Russian sculptor
Zurab Tsereteli, and it is the
tallest statue in the Americas. Other places of interest in Arecibo include: • The
Cambalache Forest Reserve •
Dos Bocas Lake which is a reservoir located between the municipalities of Arecibo and
Utuado. •
Paseo Victor Rojas (Victor Rojas Walk) also known as or simply , was built in 1881 where the Fort San Miguel's ruins once were •
Manuel "Petaca" Iguina Coliseum which is home of the
Arecibo Captains basketball team. •
Museum of Art and History of Arecibo which has art from local artists and shows the city's history Arecibo beaches include Los Morillos, Los Negritos, Poza del Obispo, and Las Tunas. Beach in Arecibo is considered a dangerous beach. To stimulate local tourism during the
COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico, the
Puerto Rico Tourism Company launched the
Voy Turistiendo (I'm Touring) campaign in 2021. The campaign featured a passport book with a page for each municipality. The Arecibo passport page lists , , and the Arecibo Light House and Historical Park, as places of interest. ==Culture==