The historic Hotel El Convento was opened as a convent in 1651 and reopened as a hotel in 1963 by an heir to the Woolworth fortune. Rita Hayworth and Ethel Merman are among its famous guests. The hotel sets the standard for luxury in Old San Juan. This gem of Spanish Colonial architecture was meticulously restored with handcrafted tiles, thick mahogany beams, velvet settees and hand-carved chairs.
