Art and culture on Saint Vincent : Sites to
see
SAINT MARY’S CATHEDRAL
Dating from 1823, built in a multitude of different
styles.
FORT CHARLOTTE
An astounding view from its 196m of altitude.
THE BOTANIC GARDEN
Marvel at rare species of trees such as the
Cannon Ball and the Sealing Wax Palm.
HARMONY HALL SUGAR MILL.
A sugar mill dating from the 19th century, located near to
Calliagua.
FORT DUVERNETTE
Situated behind the isle of Young
Island.
If you have the time to tour the island
by car, here is a choice of destinations to choose from.
LAYOU
A small fishing
village.
BARROUALLIE
An island with
the possibility to participate in whale fishing.
The FALLS OF BALEINE
Waterfalls of 20 meters on volcanic slopes.
The natural source of MONTREAL GARDENS.
MESOPOTAMIA
Small town
with remnants of market gardening.
FORT CHARLOTTE
Overlooking the sea with its cannons turned inland…
The fortress stands as a reminder of the
island’s ample history and the richness of its patrimony. Built in 1806,
entirely out of stone on a steep cliff of 600 feet (196m) above sea level,
it is situated five minutes from the capital, at the entrance of the Bay of
Kingstown. The fort hosts an exhibition of the works of Lindsay Prescott,
ex-marine officer in the English Navy, whose paintings give a perfect
insight into everyday life on the island in his time, as well as into the
basics of Black Caribbean history. The garrison’s peculiar, inland-turned
cannons are due to the fact that residing troops of the times feared the
sudden attacks of Caribbean Indians more than the methodical assaults of
European enemy ships. Today, Fort Charlotte serves as a meteorological
viewpoint and observation centre for the bay, and is preparing to host the
works of a growing number of artists and craftsmen from the islands of Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines. This project is conceived to give visitors a new
vision of the island, its art and history.
FORT DUVERNETTE
The “Little Big
Fort”…
Accessible through the isle of Young Island, situated five
minutes from the airport of Saint Vincent, the small Fort Duvernette was
constructed around the year 1800, on a massive cliff of more than 60m high,
in order to protect the village of Calliaqua, an important mooring place for
ships on call. Two English garrisons occupied the fort, the first one
forming an initial protection rampart at approximately fifteen meters from
the peak, and the other one on the summit itself. The fort is a treasure for
warfare fanatics, as it displays complete weaponry and battery of the times.
Visiting the site is only possible with the accord of the Young Island
Hotel, the sole hotel of the island, which manages and maintains this
marvellous location, a valuable gem of Caribbean history.
SAINT GEORGE CATHEDRAL
Remarkable Georgian-style architecture.
Saint George
Anglican Cathedral dates back to the 1800s, and is situated in the heart of
the capital city, Kingstown. According to architects Buisseret and Clarke,
the central nave and the tower’s first levels were constructed in 1820. The
arcade of the church is a remarkable example of Georgian architecture. The
cathedral is ornamented by beautiful stained glass windows, ordered by Queen
Victoria in honour of the arrival of her first grandson, the Duke of
Clarence. Three windows, the work of the artist Kempe face the west, and a
much larger window, manufactured in Munich, adorns the southern wall of the
edifice, all four originally destined to embellish Saint Paul’s Cathedral in
London. The statue of an angel dressed in red surveys passers-by with an
expression of calm judgement.
