Trinidad island: origin of the name, where it is located. Trinidad and Tobago - General Food
Tobago Island is located about 30 km northeast of Trinidad. This island is much smaller and quieter than Trinidad. The rolling plains of Tobago are covered with dense rainforest, making the island ideal for ecotourism enthusiasts. The island's forests are considered one of the oldest forest communities in the Western Hemisphere and have long been protected.
Weather in Tobago
Tobago beaches
The coast of the island is home to many scenic sandy beaches... The main tourist centers concentrated in the southwest of the island in the Crown Point area. There are many diving centers here, as in coastal waters Tobago passes the southern border of the distribution of coral reefs.
Tobago island
Tobago entertainment and attractions
The evergreen forests of the islands are carefully protected, for which there are numerous, for such a tiny territory, reserves, as well as the unique marine reserve "Buccoo Reef". In that natural park you can see picturesque harbors, many tropical fish, different types of corals. The nearby Bon Accord Lagoon is home to hundreds of nesting birds, including the Caribbean Swallow, Flycatcher and White-tailed Nightjar.
Local attractions include the villages of Mount St. George (Georgetown, the first British capital of the island), Goodwood, Roxborough, Goldsboro and Pembroke, the colorful First Historical Cafe in Studley Park, the beautiful building of the old sugar plantation Richmond Great House (now there is a hotel, a restaurant and an extensive collection of African art and textiles), Argyll Falls (the highest on the island - 54 m), the beautiful Kings Bay (one of the few places on the coast with nice beach with a fairly developed infrastructure), as well as the Speyside Conservation Areas and the Little Tobago Islands, which protect the nesting sites of many seabirds.
- Where to stay: on the main island of Trinidad, where there are hotels for all tastes, in particular in its capital Port of Spain, or in the tiny and calm Tobago.
- What to see: vibrant and eclectic capital
Basic moments
The unique nature of the island of Tobago and especially its evergreen rainforests must be carefully protected. Several reserves have been established in a relatively small area. Particularly popular with tourists are the Buccoo Reef Marine Reserve and the large Tobago Forest Reserve.
Unlike other islands in the Caribbean, Tobago long time did not try to colonize, although in the 17th century England, France, Holland and even the small Duchy of Courland claimed it. At the beginning of the 18th century, the island territory was declared neutral. However, pirates began to use it, so in 1763 Great Britain created its own administration here.
Travelers discovered Tobago Island relatively recently. Today tours here are in demand among lovers of tropical nature and beach holiday, so the island began to turn into one of the fastest growing beach resorts planets.
The underwater world of the coast attracts many divers to the island of Tobago. To the north of the city of Charlotteville lies one of the most popular diving areas - Piraeus Bay. It is devoid of strong currents, so both experienced divers and beginners can dive in the bay. During their dives, they have the opportunity to admire the rich underwater world - schools of fast tropical fish and colorful corals.
Island capital
The main city of the island of Tobago is Scarborough, which is home to 17 thousand people. The city is small in size and it is not difficult to get around it on foot. Historical monuments, nice restaurants and souvenir shops can be found here.
From anywhere in Scarborough, the old Fort King George is visible, rising to a height of 47 m. It was built in 1779 by the British colonialists and for a long time served as the main defensive structure of Tobago. The fort is perfectly preserved, and today various tourist establishments are located in the historical buildings.
In the Crafts Center, housed in an old hospital, travelers can learn about the crafts and traditions of the islanders. The doors of the Crafts Center are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 13:00.
In the nearby Tobago Museum, you can learn about the history of the island's colonization and see ancient finds unearthed during archaeological excavations. Not far from the museum there is a beautifully landscaped garden and the red-brick building of the Wim estate, which reminds of the fact that there used to be vast plantations here.
There are other attractions in Scarborough. One of the hotels is located in the building old mill... The large mill wheels, built in the middle of the 19th century, are preserved here. Arriving in Scarborough, tourists also try to visit the Botanical Gardens and the Orchid House.
Tobago landmarks
The small town of Charlotteville in the northeast of the island of Tobago has the status of a "fishing capital". People come here to get acquainted with the culture local population and admire the picturesque seaside landscapes. Near Charlotteville are the highest point of the island - Mount Pigeon Pike, the beautiful viewpoint of Flagstaff Hill and Manowar Bay, whose beaches are covered with dark volcanic sand. Every year in the middle of summer, the Tobago fishing tournament is held in the bay, which attracts many tourists.
Those travelers who are interested in the history of Tobago Island should definitely drop in the city of Plymouth, where the ancient Fort James, built at the beginning of the 19th century, is located. It is noteworthy that it was built from durable coral limestone, therefore it has been perfectly preserved to this day.
Fans of sea fishing and relaxation on secluded beaches should pay attention to the city of Kastaru. The coast does not yet have a developed infrastructure, so those who want to spend time on a wild, deserted beach can relax at their own pleasure.
Tobago's natural attractions include waterfalls, scenic King's Bay, Bon Accord Lagoon and Little Tobago's seabird nesting islands.
Where to stay
There are not many hotels on the island of Tobago, however, the existing hotels try to keep the brand and satisfy the most diverse needs of the guests. Travelers coming to the island can find both budget apartments and luxury five-star hotels. Some are built right in cities, such as the upscale Bacolet Hotel in Scarborough. Others, like Turtle, offer a secluded seaside retreat.
On the island of Tobago, there are also good ecological hotels built near natural attractions. One of them - "Acajoi" - is located in one of the most picturesque bays islands, Grand Riviere. Eco-friendly hotels offer accommodation in wooden cottages built from natural materials.
How to get there
Tobago Island is located 30 km northeast of large island Trinidad. From the capital of the island state - the city of Port of Spain - ferries run to Tobago. There are no direct flights from Russia to Port of Spain. Approximately 17 hours to the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, you can fly with a transfer in London, Amsterdam or Frankfurt.
Official name : Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Island state in the southern part Caribbean(West Indies), located off the northeastern coast of Venezuela, opposite the Orinoco Delta. Includes 23 islands belonging to the Lesser Antilles group: Trinidad island is separated from the mainland by the Gulf of Paria and two straits - Dragon's mouth (north, 19 km) and Serpent's mouth (south, 14 km) Venezuela is a neighbor of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in the south and west , in the north are Grenada, Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, in the east - the open Atlantic Ocean.
Capital- Port of Spain
Square: 5128 km², of which Trinidad 4828 km², Tobago 300 km²
Population- 1 million 343 thousand people. (estimate for 2008), 12.9% - citizens
Major peoplesAfrican American 56.2%, Indian 37.5%, mulatto and mestizo 18.4%, white 0.6%
Official language : English (de facto) (Creole patois, Spanish, Hindi, Chinese are common)
Political system - parliamentary republic
Head of state - President, elected by an electoral college from among the members of the Senate and House of Representatives for a 5-year term
Head of the government - prime minister appointed by the president, usually the leader of the majority party in parliament
Parliament is bicameral , is convened for a period of 5 years. Consists of the Senate (31 deputies: 16 appointed by the ruling party, 9 by the president and 6 by the opposition party) and the House of Representatives (36 deputies elected by direct universal suffrage, with 2 from Tobago required)
Telephone code 8-10-1-868
Time difference with Moscow : -8 hours during summer time in Russia, -7 hours during winter time
Currency unit : Trinidad and Tobago dollar (denoted by $ or TT $, according to the ISO standard TTD code), in 1 dollar 100 cents.
Trinidad islandwas discovered in 1498 by Columbus, who christened it La Isla de La Trinidad in honor of the Holy Trinity. The Spaniards, following in the footsteps of Columbus, enslaved the Arawak Indians who inhabited the islands at that time or resettled them to other South American colonies. But the complete lack of minerals and relatively poor soil led to the fact that the conquistadors quickly lost all interest in this land. As a result, the first European settlement on the island (Jose de Oruna, modern Saint Joseph) appeared only in 1592. Over the next two centuries, the colonialists made two unsuccessful attempts to develop the island, but the tobacco and cocoa planted by them categorically did not want to grow on the local soil. As a result, the Spaniards almost abandoned all attempts to develop this colony, and in 1797 the island came under the jurisdiction of the British crown. After the abolition of slavery in 1830, thousands of workers from India began to arrive on the islands, as well as immigrants from poor regions of Spain, Portugal, England, France and China, who were the main consolidators of the people known today as the Trinbagonians (Trinidadians).
Surrounded by the lush green hills of the North Range Port of Spain city since 1757 it has been the capital and main business center of oil-rich Trinidad. Quite unusual in its architecture and general layout, the city stretching along the Paria Bay is literally full of buildings of all styles and eras - typical Caribbean bazaars here side by side with modern skyscrapers, and mosque minarets - with domes and spiers of cathedrals. Stormy mix architectural styles At first glance, it may seem rather unsightly, especially given the abundance of docks, warehouse complexes and cranes in the very center of the city. Overall, however, Port of Spain is quite colorful, and among its modern skyscrapers and office complexes, you can easily find many beautiful nineteenth-century structures and characteristic "lush" buildings of the region, which got their name from the exquisitely carved facades and balconies.
The heart of the city is the Independence Square (Brian-Lara-Promenade), located north of the docks. A whole network of small streets is spread around, laced with bustling Frederick Street, which together form the famous shopping area of the city, which is often called simply the Center. Halfway between it and Independence Square is a nice local analogue of London's Hyde Park - Woodford Square, which is a pleasant green area, propped up from the south by the same cathedral, from the north - by the Town Hall-Librari complex, and from the west - by the majestic colonial parliament building Red House. Southeast of the central quarters rises the Immaculite-Concepcion Cathedral (beginning Xviii c) and the heart of the whole transport system Islands - City Gate on South Quay.
The main fortress of the island is located on the outskirts of the city - Fort George(1804-1826), from the walls of which there is an excellent view of Port of Spain and the mountains of northern Venezuela, easily distinguishable from here. In the valley Diego Mountains, 16 km north of Port of Spain, is one of the island's most beautiful water wheels.
And just an hour's drive south is the country's main conservation area - Caroni and the bird sanctuary of the same name. This is the only habitat scarlet ibis- the national symbol of the island, and also home to 157 other species of birds, caimans, snakes and silky anteaters.
Trinidad's third largest city, Arima was founded by the Capuchin monks in 1757, making it one of the oldest settlements on the island. Located in the idyllic foothills Nord range, the city has long been the religious center of the country, which has gone through many upheavals of local history, so many old buildings and historical traditions of the colonial era have been preserved here. After laying in these places the first railroad on the island, the economy of Arima reoriented from the processing of agricultural products to industries, gradually overgrowing with factories and residential areas. But his main "trump card" is a large Indian community, which has preserved almost all the traditions of its distant ancestors, but easily fit into the rhythm of modern life. Therefore, the Santa Rosa Festival (last week of August), along with the host Museum of the Indians at the Clevers Woods Recreation Center in the west of the city, is the largest celebration of pre-Columbian American cultures in the Caribbean.
From Arima begins the Guanapo Road - a fantastically beautiful route through the surrounding mountains and valleys to the breathtaking Guanapo Gorge and the cascades of La Laja (20 m) and Sombasson (50 m) waterfalls. From here, the Arima - Blanchisso highway begins, passing through the North Range ridges, rising to the foggy peaks of low local highlands and descending to green tunnels of mahogany, teak or cedar branches hanging over the canvas. 13 km north of Arim, there is a natural Asa Wright Center(area 80 hectares) - the most popular bird sanctuary in Trinidad. It is home to about 40 species of exotic tropical birds, and the most accessible guajaro colony is located in Dunston Cave ( Steatorniscaripensis) on the planet.
In the northwestern part of the Trinidad coast, just 40 minutes from the capital, is the most popular beach area of the island - Maracas Bay... The nearly 1,850-meter arc of fine creamy sand is framed by palm groves and a variety of tourist attractions, bounded to the west by Maracas Bay Village and to the east by the fishing village of Ancle Sam. The recreation infrastructure is excellently developed here (not surprising, given the popularity of the bay among the residents of the capital), so sometimes it is quite crowded here. However, a little to the east begins the quieter Tyriko Bay, more suitable for families with children, and even further stretch good shores Las Cuevas (just 8 km east).
The island's second largest city and main commercial center southern regions Trinidad, San Fernando spreads out in the most northwestern part of the region, in the southern part of the Gulf of Paria. The first mention of San Fernando dates back to 1595, when Sir Walter Raleigh, who landed in the Gulf of Paria in search of El Dorado, drew attention to the favorable location of a small mountain, which the Indians called Anaparima ("detached mountain"). In 1687, the Capuchin monks founded a mission in these parts called Purissima-Concepción de Naparima, in 1784 Governor José Maria Chacon granted these lands to the first settlers from Europe, and in 1792 he also named the rapidly growing up on the site of the mission and the first farm town named San Fernando in honor of the son of the Spanish king Carlos III ... Like most of the Spanish colonies, the city developed according to a strict scheme with a central square at the very coastline and a scattering of administrative buildings around it. By 1818, the population of San Fernando approached Port of Spain in number, and the two cities were connected by a coastal shipping line.
One of the amazing natural phenomena of Trinidad - Pitch Lake- located near the city of La Brie, 25 km south-west of San Fernando. The uniqueness of this place lies in the fact that here, under the influence of tectonic factors, the oil-bearing layers communicate through several underground faults with the throat of an ancient volcano, and their "contents" are transformed under the influence of temperature and pressure into first-class asphalt (there are only two such objects in the whole world - Rancho La Brie in Los Angeles (USA) and the Venezuelan asphalt basin of Guanaco). Asphalt extracted from the lake is used for construction better roads planet, he also laid out the Pall Mal alley, leading to Buckingham Palace in London.
Tobago
Lying between Trinidad and the open ocean, Tobago is only 41 by 14 kilometers in size. For a long time practically unknown to tourists, it has recently been developing at an amazing speed, showing an almost twofold increase in the number of guests every year. And this is not surprising - the magnificent underwater world, untouched nature, deserted shores and lush tropical forests - these are the main "trump cards" of this island. Tobago, like its southern neighbor, was also discovered by Columbus and captured by the Spaniards. However, unlike most other islands in the Caribbean region, there have never been any serious attempts at colonization, although in XVIIFor centuries, the British, French, Dutch and even Latvians fought for the right to own the island! In 1704, the island was declared a neutral territory, but after the pirates established their base here, the British established their colonial administration in 1763. In 1888, Tobago merged with Trinidad, in 1889 it received its own independent legislature, and in 1946 it became a self-governing territory within the Federation of the British West Indies. In the early 60s, Tobago, along with Trinidad, sought the right of internal self-government, and in 1962, both islands received full independence.
The administrative center of the island and its main port, a thriving city Scarborough(population of only 18 thousand people - a third of the population of the entire island) is almost completely devoid of tourist claims. Running up the slopes to the top of a hill crowned with a lighthouse, the city became the capital of Tobago in 1769 (then it was called Port Louis), replacing the city of Georgetown at this "post". Even today, Scarborough is very small, there is not even regular public transport, since almost all of it can be walked around in literally an hour and a half. And its main landmark is the mighty Fort King George, built by the British in 1779, towering 47 meters above the city. The old stone walls of the fort are crowned with the same old cannons that still look out over the strait between Trinidad and Tobago, and the fort's numerous structures have been carefully restored and today house most of the capital's tourist facilities. It houses the local Crafts Center with a small landscaped park, the Tobago Museum with a small but very informative collection of artifacts from Native American cultures and artifacts from the colonial period, as well as the Tourist Office and the beautiful red brick building of the old Wim plantation.
Tobago Island is located in the Caribbean Sea, 23 miles from the island of Trinidad. Throughout its history, this small island passed from hand to hand more than 30 times.
The island was first discovered Christopher Columbus August 4, 1498 and named Bella Forma (island of remarkable shape), according to another version - Isla de la Asuncion.
In September of the following year, 1665, the colony was attacked and plundered under the leadership of Robert Searle and Stedman.
In January 1666, the colony was attacked by an English squadron of four warships under the command of the captain John Points(John Poyntz). The British captured the colony, taking 150 prisoners, but their hopes for a good profit did not materialize: Searle and Stedman robbed the colony very thoroughly. On this occasion the Governor of Barbados Lord Willoughby in a letter to the Secretary of State of England dated January 29, 1666, he reported that the pirates had completely ruined the Dutch settlement on the island, leaving the British nothing to profit from. The Points soon left the island, leaving a small garrison there. The expedition probably assumed the further colonization of the island, but in August of the same year the French landed there from Grenada, who killed the English garrison, after which they themselves left the island.
In the following year, 1667, the Second Anglo-Dutch War ended. The peace agreement secured the rights to the island for France, so in the same year Abel Tissot(Abel Tisso), a French nobleman, was sent to the island as governor. Together with him, several hundred colonist families arrived on the island. But on December 18, 1672, the colony was again attacked by the British under the command of Tobias Bridges(Tobias Bridges). His expedition went out with english island Barbados on six ships carrying 600 soldiers. Seeing so many troops, the Dutch chose to surrender without a fight. After the honorable surrender of the island by the Dutch, Bridges plundered it and left. The French colonists who ended up on the island were taken to Martinique, since France was an ally of England in the Third Anglo-Dutch War. The Dutch were allowed to stay, but the cattle and slaves were taken to Barbados, as were the fort's guns. The fort itself was destroyed.
The next time the island was colonized on September 1, 1676 by the Dutch, who brought there a huge number of blacks purchased from the slave markets in French Guiana and Maria Galante. In the same year, two Dutch squadrons approached the island, one of which was commanded by a Commodore Jacob Binks, and second - Jan Bondt... The Dutch, expecting an attack from the French, erected coastal fortifications on the island, including Fort Sterreschans.
On February 20, 1677, a French squadron under the command of the Count approached the island d Estre, on the ships of which there were 4 thousand troops of the landing. In early March, the French attacked the Dutch, who by that time had been approached by the Dutch Ian Erasmus Reining, who supported his compatriots and even managed to capture one French ship. Nevertheless, the results of the battle remained unclear: the colony remained in the hands of the Dutch, but d "Estre reported to the king about his victory. On December 6 of the same year, d" Estre reappeared in the waters of Tobago and repeated the attack, this time having achieved success including desertion of the squadron under the command of Bondt), captured the island and captured the Dutch governor. In that battle, Commodore Binks was killed.
Meanwhile, the political situation in Europe has changed again. The Dutch war of 1672-1678 ended with the signing, which, among other things, secured the rights to the island for the Netherlands; and already in 1679 he was again colonized by them. In 1681, the Duke of Courland transferred his rights to the island to several London merchants under the general leadership of John Points (the same one who had plundered Tobago thirteen years earlier). After all the agreements were reached and the corresponding papers were signed, the sending of the expedition to the island was suspended by the British Privy Council for unclear reasons. Despite the fact that the British Government in 1687 declared the nullity and loss of legal force of the deed of the English monarch to the Duke of Courland, the Points made several more attempts to establish a colony on the island. Then, for about 10 years, England did not show interest in the island, and during this time several small pirate gangs settled there. Finally, in 1698, the British warship Speedwell was sent to the island with soldiers on board, as the British government had been informed that the Courlanders were about to establish a new settlement on the island. Therefore, the captain of the Speedwell had the order to detain any vessel seen in the waters of Tobago. In 1699, the British Government once again declared the legal nullity of the Duke of Courland's rights to the island.
In 1702, a group of several merchants, headed by the same captain John Points, turned to the English monarch with a request to allow him to establish a settlement on the island. The petition was rejected, instead in 1704 the island was declared a neutral territory, but a year later France founded a small military base for raids on British colonies on the nearby islands.
In 1721, the Governor of Barbados was given the privilege of issuing licenses to establish plantations in Tobago for the cultivation of certain colonial goods. By that time, the island was again a filibuster base. In a 1725 report by the Governor of Barbados, it is also reported that the island "Still used by the French as a military base." In response, from Europe, he was instructed "To confirm England's right to the island in every possible way, but avoid direct clashes with the French."
In December 1722, the waters of the island were visited by a pirate gang led by Thomas Anstis... The pirates were going to lay their ships in one of the secluded coves of the island, but were taken by surprise by the British warship "Winchelsea", which burned all the ships in the bay except for the brigantine of Anstis himself, which managed to escape.
In 1731, Jacob Kettler's son Ferdinand made an attempt to sell his rights to the island to the Swedish crown, but the Swedish ambassador in London inquired about the actual state of affairs and wrote to his overlord that he had nothing to do with the Courland. However, somehow in 1733 a party of Swedish colonists from 25 families and a number of slaves arrived on the island. The venture was not successful: the colonists were killed by the warlike Indians.
In 1748 the Marquis, Governor of French Martinique de Quelus(de Caylus) tried to colonize the island again, for which he landed a small party there and even erected a fort. However, the British Government, having found out about this, sent an official protest to France. This had an effect, de Quelus's activities were stopped and the governments of both countries signed an agreement to consider Tobago a neutral territory.
The Seven Years' War that broke out in Europe untied the hands of the British and in 1762 they occupied the island, declaring it the property of England. The Paris Peace of 1763, which ended the Seven Years' War, legally secured England's rights to the island and in November of the following year was appointed vice-governor here. Alexander Brown(Alexander Brown), and in December, a British general (Robert Melville) was appointed governor of Grenada, Tobago, Saint Vincent and Dominica, who divided the island's lands into lots and began selling them at auction to everyone. Soon the first lot - 500 acres of land on the coast of the Bay of Courland - was sold to a certain James Simpson.
The first town, founded in 1768 on the island, was Georgetown, located on the coast of the Barbados Bay. The governor's residence was built in another town - Scarborough, founded in 1769. The following year, a slave revolt broke out on the island, which was suppressed. At that time, the English colony on the island numbered 209 whites and 3,090 slaves.
Subsequently, slave uprisings broke out on the island with enviable regularity, but, in spite of everything, by 1775 the English colony already numbered 2,300 white colonists, 1,050 freedmen and 10,800 slaves.
In 1777, the island was attacked by American forces, who robbed the colony and escaped safely. At that time, the island exported mainly cotton and a small amount of indigo dye. The population of the colony reached 10 thousand people (probably this number includes slaves).
In 1779, the French captured Grenada and captured the British Governor-General. Two years later, in April 1781, the French attacked Tobago: the island was occupied, and its vice-governor Ferguson was captured. The French did not leave the island, instead they proclaimed it their territory and even repaired and fortified their old fort, built by the Marquis de Quelus.
The following year, 1783, the Treaty of Versailles was signed in Europe, under which (including) the island of Tobago was transferred to France. He was sent to the island as governor Philbert de Blanchet(Philbert de Blanchard). Things were pretty bad in the colony, the white population of the island was reduced to 800 people. It took several years to rectify the situation, but in 1790 there was a mutiny among the French garrison of Scarborough. As a result of the riots, a fire broke out in the city and it burned to the ground. To make matters worse, in August of the same year, a hurricane hit the island, causing very significant damage to the colony and plantations.
On April 15, 1793, the island was attacked by the British and captured. The British established a puppet Government there with a Legislative Council. During the year, militia units were formed, as well as the "Corps of Black Jaegers". The corps consisted of 100 slaves who could be entrusted with weapons. The officers were, of course, white. The Tobago government issued a proclamation urging the entire male population of the island to swear allegiance to the British Crown. Many French colonists who remained on the island since its occupation by France refused to take the oath, so they were arrested and tried as war criminals.
Tobago became French again after nine years. General was appointed the new governor of the island. Sabuzh(Sabuguet), who arrived on the island on September 29, along with part of the French troops who were supposed to garrison the island. Having landed in the Bay of Courland, they occupied Fort King George, which was surrendered by the British, led by a brigadier general. Carmichael(according to a report from Sabuzh on October 7 - the fort was surrendered without a fight). Sabuzhe also reported that "The British threw all their weapons and even artillery and fled to the homes of the colonists"... The government and council of the island held an anonymous vote, the results of which showed that the majority of the colonists were in favor of the island falling under the protectorate of the French Republic, however, the colonists voted to leave the previous laws and the constitution of the island.
The British returned to the island in 1803, landing an armed force at Arnosville. One of the slaves George Winchester, volunteered to lead the party to Mount Grace. The British managed to catch the French garrison of the fort by surprise, so the latter surrendered without a fight. George Winchester was freed for his service, and also awarded £ 30 "For the formation and development of their business."
In 1805, the waters of the island were visited by an admiral, who was looking for a French squadron in the Caribbean.
In 1814, the war with Napoleon ended and, according to a peace treaty, the island of Tobago again ceded to Britain, the colony of which it remained until August 1, 1962, when the island gained independence.
The Caribbean island of Tobago began to attract the attention of tourists just a few years ago; today it is one of the most actively developing and progressive beach resorts. The main attractive features of the island are luxurious tropical forests, an abundance of beaches with pristine beauty and a unique underwater world. Since the second half of the 18th century, the administrative center of the island has been the city of Scarborough. The miniature town is ideal for hiking, at every step here you can find interesting monuments stories, attractive restaurants and souvenir shops.
The main symbol of Scarborough is the ancient Fort King George, which can be seen literally from any area of the city. The height of the fort is 47 meters, it was built in 1779 and for a long time remained the main defensive structure on the island. The old fort has survived to this day in almost a rebuilt form, it was completely restored and restored, today a variety of tourist institutions are located in historical buildings.
So, in the building of the old hospital today there is a Crafts Center - one of the most interesting cultural institutions of the island. Its visitors can not only appreciate the versatility of the culture and traditions of the indigenous population, but also acquire a lot as a souvenir of the trip. interesting souvenirs self made. Nearby is the Tobago Museum, the collection of which is also very interesting. A significant part of the exhibition displays artifacts from colonial times; there are finds in the museum from an earlier period. Copyright www.site
After exploring the collections, travelers will be pleased to stroll through the nearby landscaped garden, immediately behind which is located one of the main architectural attractions of Tobago - the Wim estate. Once upon a time large-scale plantations were located on this place, today only a preserved building, built of red brick, reminds of bygone times.
Outside the fort, there are also many interesting sights to explore. In the capital, the building of an old mill has survived, which today houses one of the most popular hotels. It is noteworthy that it was decided to keep the huge mill wheels, which were made in the middle of the 19th century, in the building. Among the outstanding architectural sights, it is also worth noting the House of the Courthouse, which was built in 1825 and is currently the site of the Tobago House of Congregations.
A kind of "fishing capital" of the island is the town of Charlotteville, located in its northeastern part. This city is ideal for exploring the culture and life of the indigenous population. A huge number of interesting natural attractions are concentrated in the vicinity of the city, including Manovar Bay, the most high point islands - Mount Pigeon Pike, as well as Flagstaff Hill - one of the best places on the island for admiring the surroundings.