Food and town in Fajardo
Downtown Fajardo: the plaza and cathedral
Away from the marinas and beaches, Fajardo has a traditional Puerto Rican town center built around a plaza, with a historic cathedral on its north side. It is the civic and spiritual heart of the town, an easy and worthwhile stop between the coast and everything else.
Essential details
- Landmark
- Catedral Santiago Apostol
- Status
- Catholic cathedral
- Diocese
- Fajardo-Humacao seat
- Built
- Present church from 1869
- Listing
- National Register, 1984
- Location
- North side, town plaza
The town plaza
Like most Puerto Rican towns, Fajardo is organized around a central plaza, the open square that has always been the gathering place for daily life, conversation, and town events. It is a shaded, walkable spot ringed by the cathedral, civic buildings, and small businesses, and it makes a natural starting point for a wander through the town center. For a meal nearby, see our where to eat guide.
The Cathedral Santiago Apostol
On the north side of the plaza stands the Catedral Santiago Apostol, the Cathedral of St. James the Apostle. The parish was established in 1766 and the first church finished in 1776, but an earthquake destroyed it in 1867. The present church was begun in 1869, reusing the old side walls and floor tiles, and was designed by Don Pedro A. Beibal. It rose to cathedral status in 2008, when the Diocese of Fajardo-Humacao was created, and it shares that role with the co-cathedral in Humacao. Listed on the US National Register of Historic Places in 1984, it is recognizable by its square bell tower and brick lanterned dome.
The town and its saint
The cathedral is dedicated to Santiago Apostol, St. James the Apostle, who is Fajardo's patron saint. The connection runs deep: the town's historic name was Santiago de Fajardo, tying the place to the saint from the start. Every July, that bond is celebrated in the town's patron-saint festival. See our guide to the Fiestas de Santiago Apostol.
Visiting
- Be respectful if a Mass or service is in progress; this is an active cathedral.
- Go on foot. The plaza and town center are compact and walkable.
- Combine it with a downtown meal or a stop on the way to or from the coast.
Downtown Fajardo FAQ
It is the Catedral Santiago Apostol, the Cathedral of St. James the Apostle, a Catholic cathedral on the north side of the town plaza. With the co-cathedral in Humacao, it is the seat of the Diocese of Fajardo-Humacao.
The parish dates to 1766 and the first church was completed in 1776. After an earthquake destroyed it in 1867, the present church was begun in 1869, reusing the old side walls and floor tiles. It became a cathedral in 2008.
Yes. It was listed on the US National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and is a designated Puerto Rico historic site. The building is known for its square bell tower and brick lanterned dome.
Stroll the town plaza, see the cathedral on its north side, and find local eateries and bakeries nearby. The plaza is the walkable civic heart of the town, an easy stop between the coast and the rest of your day.
Santiago Apostol, or St. James the Apostle, who is Fajardo's patron saint. The town's historic name was Santiago de Fajardo, and the saint is honored each July in the town's patron-saint festival.
This is an active cathedral, so you can usually step inside when it is open. We ask that you be respectful and quiet if a Mass or service is in progress, and dress modestly as you would at any working place of worship.
The plaza is pleasant any day, but it comes most alive around July 25 for the Fiestas de Santiago Apostol, the patron-saint festival. We pair a town stroll with a meal nearby, slotting it between time on the coast.