St. John's - the capital of Antigua and Barbuda

St. Johns is the capital and largest city, and also a port in the state called Antigua and Barbuda. Few people know that there are a lot of historical and cultural monuments worthy of attention of tourists. In this publication we will tell you about what to see in St. John's and what kind of entertainment tourists are waiting for in the capital of Antigua and Barbuda.

General information

The location of the capital occupies one of the bays of the island of Antigua. As for the climatic conditions, here they are considered to be tropical. Temperature values range from twenty-five to thirty degrees of heat. Most rains come in summer and autumn.

Historical reference. Antigua and Barbuda on the world map

In the first half of the XVII century, the island of Antigua was taken over by Great Britain, so the city was founded by the English. Already in a century industrial enterprises developed here, which processed sugar cane, which gave unprecedented profits. From African territories, slaves were brought, who worked both on land and in factories. They are the ancestors of the modern inhabitants of the state. In the first half of the XIX century slavery was abolished, but the life of the population in St. John's still remained many years still quite difficult. The city became the capital after the country gained its independence in the 80s of the last century, and a state such as Antigua and Barbuda appeared on the world map.

The capital of Antigua

The city of St. Johns is a commercial center and a famous place attracting tourists. However, at the same time it is considered to be quite a non-standard capital. In this city there are about thirty thousand people, and this already accounts for half of the total population of Antigua and Barbuda. Despite the fact that every year a huge number of tourists come here, most of Saint John's are samples of ancient Caribbean architectural monuments. Tourist leisure is based on pastime in places near the harbor, as well as the picturesque district called Radcliffe-Kwai, which is full of cafes, shops, exhibition centers and museums, as well as a large number of old houses that delight travelers with their colors. A certain part of the buildings was restored, and the other will soon collapse, but all together is the spirit of the former capital and its history, which is so popular with those who come here. To explore the whole of St. John's, you will need only a couple of hours, since the main monuments of interest are nearby.

Historical sights of the city

Without fail it is necessary to look at the neo-baroque temple, the date of its construction dates back to the end of the first half of the XIX century. Tower designs of the church are a kind of identification sign of Antigua and Barbuda, as well as one of the rarest examples of architectural monuments of wood and stone. In addition, you need to visit the museum complex, which is located in the courthouse (mid-XVIII century), located to the west of the cathedral. In the museum you can see an interesting historical exposition, as well as learn a lot about the cultural peculiarities of the life of local Indians and everyday life in colonial times. On the street Long Street, which is the venue for carnivals, you will find a large number of ancient architecture, among which we should mention the wine shops of the 17th century (and they still work!). In the small gallery of Nika-Mali you can see the exhibition of artists. Also, if you want to get acquainted with the atmosphere of St. John's, you need to go to the old berth of Radcliffe-Quay, which can not be better suited for this purpose. This area of the city is considered one of the oldest, because in these places there are many shops, as well as cafes and bars located in the buildings of the former warehouse premises. Behind this place, down Navis Street, you will find a site of the old slave market, and north of it - the streets of the Harididzh-Kwai district, near which ships stop floating on cruises. It is because of this that you can go to duty-free shops, as well as go to a theater performance or look at the monuments of local memorials.

What to do in St. John's?

If you come to Antigua, St. John's will please you with a farmer's market, which is located in the south of the capital. On weekends there are many people who want to buy local goods. The most famous sporting game on the island is considered to be cricket, therefore on Antigua even competitions are held on it among local teams. The capital is attracted by a large number of travelers from various countries, including because of the opportunity to relax on the excellent clean beaches. If you want to enjoy an exotic cuisine, then be sure to try seafood and drink a fruit drink according to a local recipe.