Monumento al Jíbaro Puertorriqueño
Encyclopedia
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
to honor the Puerto Rican Jíbaro
Jíbaro
Jíbaro is a term from the Taíno words "jiba" and "ro", that means forest people, commonly used in Puerto Rico to refer to mountain-dwelling peasants, but in modern times it has gained a broader cultural meaning.-History:...
, located in Salinas, Puerto Rico
Salinas, Puerto Rico
Salinas is a small municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Aibonito and Cayey; southeast of Coamo, east of Santa Isabel; and west of Guayama...
. It was sculpted by Tomás Batista
Tomás Batista
Tomás Batista is considered by many to be Puerto Rico's greatest sculptor. He is the creator of some of Puerto Rico's most famous monuments.-Early years:...
.
Location
Contrary to popular belief, the monument is located in Barrio Lapa, in the municipality of Salinas, Puerto RicoSalinas, Puerto Rico
Salinas is a small municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Aibonito and Cayey; southeast of Coamo, east of Santa Isabel; and west of Guayama...
. It is located about 300 feet from Salinas' barrio Las Palmas.
The monument is located on Puerto Rico Highway 52 at kilometer post number "49.0". Colocated with the monument is the northbound PR-52 rest area
Rest area
A rest area, travel plaza, rest stop, or service area is a public facility, located next to a large thoroughfare such as a highway, expressway, or freeway at which drivers and passengers can rest, eat, or refuel without exiting on to secondary roads...
, the only roadway rest area in Puerto Rico. Its location is between PR-52 exit 39 (PR-1
Puerto Rico Highway 1
Puerto Rico Highway 1 connects the city of Ponce to San Juan. Leaving Ponce, the road follows somewhat parallel along the southern coast of the island and, at Salinas, it turns north to cut through the Cordillera Central in its approach to San Juan....
/ PR-15 – Cayey, Aibonito, Cidra
Cidra, Puerto Rico
Cidra is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central region of the island, north of Cayey; south of Comerío and Aguas Buenas; east of Aibonito and Barranquitas; and west of Caguas. Cidra is spread over 12 wards and Cidra Pueblo...
, Jajome) and exit 58 (Albergue Olimpico
Albergue Olímpico
The Albergue Olímpico German Rieckehoff Sampayo or Olympic Hostel is an athletic training and recreational center located in Salinas, Puerto Rico. It is the most complete sports center in Puerto Rico used by professional athletes and by the general public for health, educational, and recreational...
). The monument is accessible via the southbound lanes of PR-52 only; there is no access from the northbound lanes or the northbound PR-52 rest area. It location is geographically part of a transition zone between the central mountainous and humid interior zone and the southern dry zone. It is located at coordinates: Coordinates: 18.07165 x -66.217246.
Further reading
- El Jibaro. Puerto Rico Off The Beaten Path. Page 157. Accessed January 16, 2011.