| Villa Del Mar | |
| Location: | PR-3, Km 66.2 Húcares, Naguabo, Puerto Rico |
| Built: | 1917 |
| Architect: | Antonio Higuera |
| Architecture: | Late 19th and 20th century Revivals (elements of Victorian and Criollo styles) |
| Added: | June 23, 1983 |
| Refnum: | 83002293 |
| Designated Other1 Name: | Puerto Rico Historic Sites and Zones |
| Designated Other1 Color: |
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| Designated Other1 Num Position: | bottom |
| Designated Other1 Number: | 2000-(RE)-18-JP-SH |
| Designated Other1 Abbr: | RNSZH |
| Designated Other1 Date: | May 16, 2001 |
Villa Del Mar, popularly known as El Castillo, is a historic 1917 residence located in Naguabo, Puerto Rico, in the vicinity of the Malecón of Naguabo.[1]
Villa Del Mar is located in a coastal settlement named Húcares, also known as Naguabo Playa, in a section of PR-3 by the malecón that is home to numerous notorious Criollo-style residences with elements of and inspired by Late Victorian (Queen Anne) architecture. The building, also inspired by the previously mentioned architectural styles, was built in 1917 for Mr. Faustino Rodríguez and Mrs. Carmen Fuertes, owners of the Triunfo (Central Triunfo) and Gurabo (Central Gurabo) Sugarcane Refineries, located in Naguabo and Gurabo,[2] respectively. The structure was important in the architectural development of private residences of sugarcane plantation owners of Puerto Rico during the early 20th century.[3]
The historic residence was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and to the Puerto Rico Register of Historic Sites and Zones in 2001.[4] [5] At the time of the NRHP-listing the building was owned by Arnaldo Castro López, and in addition to having served as a private residence it had served as a municipal center and as a restaurant. The building was last restored between 1980 and 1982. Local folklore and popular culture describe the structure as being haunted.[6] As of 2023, the building is in ruins after falling into disrepair in the aftermath of hurricanes and neglect.