Sandy Lane Beach © Barbados Tourism
Bridgetown, originally called 'Indian Bridge', is the capital
and commercial centre of Barbados, with about 80,000 inhabitants.
It is a busy port with a natural harbour inlet, known as the
Careenage, and is well utilised by pleasure craft and fishing
boats. The main street, Broad Street, is where one finds banks,
department stores and duty-free shops. At the top of Broad Street
is the Parliament Building (the Barbados Parliament is the third
oldest in the Commonwealth, dating from 1639), facing National
Heroes Square. Opposite the Gothic parliamentary building is a
grand statue of Lord Nelson, which, having been erected in 1813, is
older than the one in Trafalgar Square in London. Barbados'
colonial military history is well represented at the Barbados
Garrison, the 18th-century base of the British Windward and Leeward
Islands Command. This elegant Georgian building, dating from 1802,
is the headquarters of the Garrison Committee who are unearthing
the numerous old cannons scattered around the island; about 400
have so far been found in gardens, cellars, beaches or buried
beneath fortifications. The most important pieces from this
collection are mounted in front of the Main Guard House and make a
fine photographic display for visitors. The Garrison complex also
features the Barbados Museum, which is housed in the old military
detention barracks - the display galleries were once prison cells.
The museum houses exhibits chronicling the natural history and arts
and crafts of Barbados. Another attraction in Bridgetown is a
massive Baobab tree (said to have been brought to the island from
Guinea, Africa around 1738). It takes 15 adults with outstretched
arms to encircle the trunk.
Attractions
A Bathsheba shack © NorthJoe
Bathsheba
This little fishing village on the east coast is a favourite
spot for photographers because of its picturesque rocky
terrain. It also boasts one of the island's
most spectacular beaches. It is situated about 14 miles (23km)
from Bridgetown in St Joseph and is known locally as 'the...
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Casuarina Garden © Hanumann
Gardens
Barbados offers the tranquillity of several beautifully
landscaped tropical gardens. Just outside Bridgetown, in the parish
of St Michael, is the Lazaretto Garden with its magnificent
waterfall cascading over a rock face. A little further inland are
the Ayshford Ratite Gardens, with their breathtaking...
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Red mangrove © Muriel Gottrop
Graeme Hall Swamp
Not far from Bridgetown, in the parish of Christ Church, is the
largest expanse of inland water on the island. This expansive
swamp, with red and white mangrove trees, is a natural habitat for
more than 40 species of birds. A boardwalk allows...
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Harrison’s Cave
Harrison’s Cave
This huge underground cavern is one of the most popular
attractions on the island with its amazing gallery of stalactites
and stalagmites, streams of crystal clear water, breathtaking
waterfalls and deep emerald pools. Tour guides conduct visitors
from the attractive Visitor’s Centre on a...
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St Nicholas Abbey © Barbados Tourism Authority
Jacobean Mansions
St Nicholas' Abbey in St Peter and Drax Hall in St George are
two of the oldest buildings in Barbados. Both are world-renowned
examples of Jacobean architecture that features curved Dutch gables
and coral-stone finials, each furnished with antiques. Both
buildings were constructed in...
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Sandy Lane Beach © Barbados Tourism
West Coast Beaches
The west coast is known as the 'Platinum Coast'. Running north
from the capital Bridgetown, are numerous luxury beach resorts
resting along the shore of the clear warm Caribbean waters that lap
gently onto golden sands. Some of the most popular beaches for
swimming...
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Animal Flower Cave © Garybembridge
Wildlife
The waters around Barbados are a treasure trove of marine life.
In the far north of the island is the Animal Flower Cave (in the
parish of St Lucy) where sea anemones abound in cave pools deep
enough to swim in. Scuba divers...
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An antique car © sciondriver
Holetown Festival
Holetown, located on the west coast north of
Bridgetown, was the first settlement on the island of
Barbados. It was initially named Jamestown by the first
English settlers who landed in the small channel in 1625 when King
James I was on the throne in England. Today the town...
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James Blunt © www.barbadosjazzfestival.com
Barbados Jazz Festival
The major music event on the Barbados calendar is the Jazz
Festival, held each year in January. The festival celebrates the
best in international and local jazz talent and is held across a
variety of venues throughout the island, from the modern Sir
Garfield...
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Bridgetown Old School of Art building © BlackmanVision\'s
National Independence Festival of Creative Arts
The National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA) is
held in Barbados annually throughout the month of November.
Islanders of all ages are invited to exhibit their dance, drama,
music, literary, culinary and artistic talents. The festival month
is packed with numerous performances, art...
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