Known as "La Perla del Sur," or "The Pearl of the South," Ponce is Puerto Rico's second largest city. Because much of the city's colonial architecture has been preserved, Ponce has been declared a national treasure. Established in the late 1600s, Ponce is filled with museums, plazas, churches, fountains and homes from the colonial era. In the center of the City is the Plaza Las Delicias, a hilly neighborhood that is beloved by the people of Ponce. Beyond its beauty, Ponce is also home to one of the busiest trading ports in the Caribbean.