San Germán, Puerto Rico

San Germán is the name of a city in south-west Puerto Rico, near Mayagüez and Cabo Rojo.

There is evidence that the city of San Germán existed as far back as 1582. A letter sent back then to Spain's king Phillip II talked about a city with the alternative names of Nueva Salamanca and San Germán. Spanish conquerors used the name Nueva Salamanca to honor the Salamanca area of Spain.

San Germán is famous for being the site of the Porta Coeli church, one of the first Spanish style churches built in Latin America. The Porta Coeli church is still a major touristic attraction that brings both domestic and international tourists every year.

Sports-wise, San Germán only has one professional sports team, BSN's San Germán Athletics. Alternatively nicknamed El monstruo anaranjado (The orange monster, in reference to their uniform) or Los nenes, San Germán's basketball team has been one of the most successful ones in Puerto Rican basketball history, winning thirteen championships. From 1955 to 1985 the Atleticos did not win a championship, however. But the 1985 edition of the team, helped by Jose Ortiz, beat the Guaynabo Mets in six games to win the national title, and, at the same time, helped San Germán revitalize its economy by making many Puerto Ricans outside San Germán remember the city.