H I S T O R I C B R I D G E T O W N
Unesco puts spotlight on historic appeal of Bridgetown
emergency services, churches and government buildings cluster in close proximity. With its colonial architecture, Bridgetown maintains its old charm and there are many landmarks throughout the city. An iconic monument in Bridgetown is the Independence Arch, built in 1987 to mark 21 years of independence. Another landmark is St Michael’s Church, once recognised as having the widest arched roof in the world. The Jewish Synagogue, also in Bridgetown, is a protected
Barbados has a rich history that spans the generations. In 2011 the area of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison was placed on the prestigious World Heritage List by Unesco.
building and is next door to the Nidhe Israel Museum. Originally built in 1654, the synagogue was destroyed by a hurricane in 1831, rebuilt and then fell into disrepair and was sold. The synagogue was restored in 1983 and is still active.
Parliament Buildings Facing National Heroes Square (formerly Trafalgar Square) are the
The World Heritage List includes 981 properties that have been
Parliament Buildings, dating back over 350 years and home to the
selected by the World Heritage Committee as having ‘outstanding
third-oldest political system in the Commonwealth.
universal value’. Being placed on this list is a significant achievement for Barbados.
In recent years Bridgetown has undergone some changes with the upgrading of the Cheapside and Lower Green area, site of
First port of call
the original City of Bridgetown; construction of the General Post
The capital, Bridgetown, derives its name from the bridge that was
the 1980s; the restoration of City Hall; and the transformation of
built by the original Amerindian settlers. The island was settled by
Swan Street into a pedestrian mall.
Office headquarters; construction of the Central Bank building in
the British in the 17th century and early deeds refer to the area as Indian Bridge and Indian Bridgetown. It was often the first port of
The Barbados Chamber of Commerce has begun a new initiative
call for ships making the transatlantic crossing from Africa.
called ‘Thursday Night Live in the City’ featuring a range of entertainment between Lower Broad Street and Upper Broad
Over the years Bridgetown has evolved into a series of diverse
Street. Most of the businesses stay open until 9 pm on Thursdays,
neighbourhoods in which homes, shopping centres, banks,
giving visitors and local people the opportunity to shop longer.
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