Ponce, the city named after the great Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León, is a touristic and historic site in South Puerto Rico.

Ponce, nicknamed The City of Los Leones after Ponce de León, has one of Puerto Rico's richest histories, dating back to the 19th century.

In 1883, Ponce was ravaged by an enormous fire. The fire was threatening to destroy all of Puerto Rico's South, but thanks to the brave firemen of Ponce, after an historic and dramatic battle with the fire, Ponce and the South were saved. The fire station where these firemen came from has since become a museum and touristic attraction to all Puerto Ricans and tourists from abroad, while still serving the Ponce community.

Ponce, a place that welcomed thousands of Black immigrants in the earlier centuries, also became the birthplace of La Plena, a music rhythm that was the precursor of Salsa music. La Plena combines the sound of la pandereta, la conga and las maracas, which combined with dances by women and their couples, makes for a very sweet music to hear.

Ponce is also the home of El Museo de Arte de Ponce, operated by Puerto Rico's former Governor Luis A. Ferré, the Don Q liquor manufacturer and the Leones de Ponce, Puerto Rico's national basketball champions.