Plaza las Delicias is the heart of Ponce and one of the finest town squares in the Caribbean. Flanked by the red-and-black Parque de Bombas on one side and the white Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the other, the plaza is lined with mature trees, decorative tile work, and benches that are perpetually occupied by ponceños going about their day. The Fountain of the Lions at its centre is illuminated at night.
The plaza rewards slow exploration. The city hall building separates the two component plazas; the Armstrong-Poventud residence on the north edge is one of the finest examples of Ponce Creole architecture; and the historic hotel Meliá faces the square from the east. In the late afternoon, as the heat eases and the light goes golden, the square fills with vendors, families, and the municipal band — it functions as a public living room for the entire city.