Do you dream of relaxing in a charming and tranquil bay, walking in tropical forests and fruit gardens? In this case, you simply should visit the island country of Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean Sea. The islands are very popular with fans of trouble-free beach recreation and exotic nature. It is so pleasant to spend days at the coast, explore picturesque mountain regions, watch fabulous butterflies, and try scuba diving and other water sports.
Carib tribes inhabited these islands before the colonization period. Christopher Columbus was the first European explorer who visited the islands in 1493. However, Saint Kitts and Nevis didn’t draw the attention of Spanish colonizers, and so settlers from Great Britain founded their first colony on the islands in 1623. France became interested in Saint Kitts and Nevis a few years later, in 1626, and this event marked the start of an uneasy colonization process for the islands.
Within just one year, European colonizers killed more than 4,000 indigenous people. Aboriginal tribes resisted the invasion of colonizers. Great Britain and France competed for the right to set up their authority over Saint Kitts and Nevis until the end of the 18th century. The two islands became a British territory in accordance with the Treaty of Versailles in 1783. The island country received wider autonomy and more rights only in 1967. Saint Kitts and Nevis finally became an independent country in 1983.
The colonial town of Basseterre is the capital of Saint Kitts and Nevis. It was founded yet in the 18th century. The town lost many of its historic landmarks in a devastating fire of 1867. Only several gorgeous stone buildings in colonial style have survived until modern times. Fort Street is recognized as the most beautiful historic street in the capital. Some buildings of Fort Street might look very old, but their real age is a bit more than a century. Local people used stones and wood, which survived in the blaze, to build their new houses, and this explains the older look.
The coastal town of Old Road Town is a charming place where tourists can take a stroll in a spacious sugarcane plantation and enter old factories. This town is situated exactly on the site where British colonizers first reached the islands at the beginning of the 17th century. Nowadays, the Government’s House and beautiful Saint Thomas Church are considered the main landmarks of the colonial settlement. Having observed the town, tourists can head to its suburbs to visit an interesting archaeological site. In this area, scientists discovered rock petroglyphs made by first inhabitants of the islands more than a thousand years ago.
Are you particularly interested in historic landmarks? In this case, the unique Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park is a must-visit sight. The fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An old British fort, which dates back to the 18th century, is the main landmark of the area. British settlers founded the fort yet in 1690, but the building process lasted more than a century. The ready fort occupies a large territory. The citadel has survived until our days in great condition, but some buildings in the complex were demolished in the second part of the 19th century. Many stones from the fort were used restore the capital after the blaze.
When you want to enjoy trouble-free relaxation, it is hard to think of a better destination than Sandy Point. This town doesn’t have many historic landmarks, but its excellent beaches and water sports infrastructure make it a fantastic resort. Moreover, there is a beautiful coral reef near the coast, so even beginner divers can explore them. There are old sugarcane plantations and wonderful fruit gardens not far from the coast.
Charlestown, the capital of Nevis Island, is one more interesting place that attracts numerous tourists. Tourists will find many beautiful buildings of the colonial period here. There are many gorgeous houses of the 17th – 19th centuries in the central part of the city. Many of these buildings were transformed into museums and art galleries. It is hard to find a better place to get acquainted with the history and culture of the islands.
Each of the two islands of the country has an international airport. Tourists can fly to Saint Kitts and Nevis from Philadelphia, Miami, Saint Martin, London, Antigua Islands, and Puerto Rico. American Airlines and Continental Airlines have regular flights to the islands from the United States. This way to reach Saint Kitts and Nevis is usually considered the most affordable. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic offer flights from Great Britain. Royal Caribbean International, a popular cruise company, has regular cruises in the Caribbean, during which ocean liners visit ports of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
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Cities and sights of St Kitts and Nevis
