Antigua has long been a favourite holiday destination among people who want to relax in lush surroundings under blue skies and blazing sun. But this West Indies Island has so much more to offer than pristine beaches and top-class resorts - there are a wealth of historically and culturally significant attractions that will reward explorers of the island with spectacular sights and insight into the traditions of this beautiful area of the Caribbean.
The Cathedral of St. John's is top of the list for many tourists and if you venture out of your resort to visit it you'll see why. It consists of a wooden cathedral with a stone cathedral built around it. This would make it special in its own right, but its location - it is on a volcano - makes it absolutely stunning. While taking a picture, leave a moment to imagine the rather amusing thought of English architects having to consider the effects of earthquakes and hurricanes on the Antiguan cathedral.
Then there is the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda. The old courthouse in St. John, which dates from 1747, was converted in 1985 to house this hands-on museum. Detailing the island's geological as well as political history the museum regularly holds special events for the general public. The range of exhibits is impressive for a museum of its size with original posters advertising slaves for sale, to the cricket bat of the famous West Indies cricketer Viv Richards.
Horatio Nelson first arrived in Antigua in 1784 and you can visit Nelson's Dockyard at the southern tip of the island to this day. The iron cauldrons, which were originally used to melt the tar that would repair the hulls of ships that entered the dock, are still on display allowing a fantastic photo opportunity. As the dock is the only remaining Georgian dockyard in the world a visit to the area is absolutely essential.
These are just a few of the places of interest available to see while on holiday in Antigua. But there's also the reconstructed wind-powered 17th century sugar mill or the opportunity to take a daytrip to Barbuda to see some of the pinkest beaches in the world. And after all that, there is still what everyone loves about Antigua - beautiful sun, sea and sand.
The Cathedral of St. John's is top of the list for many tourists and if you venture out of your resort to visit it you'll see why. It consists of a wooden cathedral with a stone cathedral built around it. This would make it special in its own right, but its location - it is on a volcano - makes it absolutely stunning. While taking a picture, leave a moment to imagine the rather amusing thought of English architects having to consider the effects of earthquakes and hurricanes on the Antiguan cathedral.
Then there is the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda. The old courthouse in St. John, which dates from 1747, was converted in 1985 to house this hands-on museum. Detailing the island's geological as well as political history the museum regularly holds special events for the general public. The range of exhibits is impressive for a museum of its size with original posters advertising slaves for sale, to the cricket bat of the famous West Indies cricketer Viv Richards.
Horatio Nelson first arrived in Antigua in 1784 and you can visit Nelson's Dockyard at the southern tip of the island to this day. The iron cauldrons, which were originally used to melt the tar that would repair the hulls of ships that entered the dock, are still on display allowing a fantastic photo opportunity. As the dock is the only remaining Georgian dockyard in the world a visit to the area is absolutely essential.
These are just a few of the places of interest available to see while on holiday in Antigua. But there's also the reconstructed wind-powered 17th century sugar mill or the opportunity to take a daytrip to Barbuda to see some of the pinkest beaches in the world. And after all that, there is still what everyone loves about Antigua - beautiful sun, sea and sand.
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