Which architect was responsible for designing the building standing on the original site of a Spanish explorer, conquistador, and first Governor of Puerto Rico?
Juan Ponce de León Juan Ponce de León (] ; 1474 – July 1521) was a Spanish explorer and "conquistador". He became the first Governor of Puerto Rico by appointment of the Spanish crown. He led the first known European expedition to "La Florida", which he named during his first voyage to the area in 1513. Though in popular culture, he was supposedly searching for the Fountain of Youth, there is no contemporary evidence to support the story, which is likely a myth.
Real Audiencia of Santo Domingo The Royal Audiencia of Santo Domingo (Spanish: "Real Audiencia de Santo Domingo" ) was the first court of the Spanish crown in America. It was created by Ferdinand V of Castile in his decree of 1511, but due to disagreements between the governor of Hispaniola, Diego Colon and the Crown, it was not implemented until it was reestablished by Charles V in his decree of September 14, 1526. This "audiencia" would become part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain upon the creation of the latter two decades later. Nevertheless, the "audiencia" president was at the same time governor and captain general of the Captaincy General of Santo Domingo, which granted him broad administrative powers and autonomy over the Spanish possessions of the Caribbean and most of its mainland coasts. This combined with the judicial oversight that the "audiencia" judges had over the region, meant that the Santo Domingo "Audiencia" was the principal political entity of this region during the colonial period.