Serralle Castle Field Trip, Ponce Puerto Rico

On May 31^st, 2012; the students of Social Studies at Barranquitas Job Corps visited, as part of a class field trip, Serralle Castle at Ponce Puerto Rico. The students learned about the Serralle family who were one of the most prominent families in Puerto Rico. As every wealthy family of the 17, 18 and 19 century, the Serralle Family owned sugar cane plantations and Hacienda Mercedita was the most prominent of all. Hacienda Mercedita was a 4,000 acre sugar plantation founded by Juan Serralle. This hacienda became known as the king of all the sugar in Puerto Rico. With the oncoming industrial revolution the Serralle Family evolved Hacienda Mercedita from a slave empowered mechanical system known as a “Trapiche de Sangre” (Blood Sugar Shredder) to vapor powered technology. Hacienda Mercedita evolved to a sugar refinery producing world known brand (high quality) Snow White. Also the Serralle entered and thrived in another puertorican tradition, Rum. Serralle seal brand, Don Q, is one of the finest rums in the world and has become one of a iconic brand of the rum capital of the world, Puerto Rico. The student had a great educational experience on the heritage of puertorican entrepreneurs that paved the way for future generation. The Serralle Castle is an icon of Spanish colonial aristocratic architecture with arches, and the finest wood, marble, furniture and silverware of Europe. Is a national treasure which housed four generations of Serralle’s sugar kings, that now in day is turned into a museum sustained by the city of Ponce. Afterward we went to eat some food and delights to head back to Barranquitas Job Corps Academy.