The central plaza, or square, is a place for official and unofficial recreational events and a place where people can gather and socialize from dusk to dawn. The
Laws of the Indies, Spanish law, which regulated life in Puerto Rico in the early 19th century, stated the plaza's purpose was for "the parties" (celebrations, festivities) (), and that the square should be proportionally large enough for the number of neighbors (). These Spanish regulations also stated that the streets nearby should be comfortable portals for passersby, protecting them from the elements: sun and rain. Located across the central plaza in Luquillo barrio-pueblo is the , a Roman Catholic church built in 1797. Destroyed by hurricanes, it was rebuilt in 1834. The current church, designed by Luis Perocier, was built by 1931. The wood in the church and its tropical motifs was imported from South America. ==History==