Port Of Spain: Major Tourist Attractions

Caught somewhere between its avant-garde air and its vivacious yet relaxed social tone, Port of Spain offers plenty of entertainment during the day as well as the night. If you’re through with lazing on the beach, the city offers number of interesting sights. 

The downtown area is congested, claustrophobic and buzzing with activity. Don’t get put off by its run down appearance, there’s a lot to admire in the oldest part of Port of Spain. The centre of political activity, the Red House, dominates the west of Woodford Square.

 You can begin your explorations with the Woodford Square named after the former governor, Sir Ralph Woodford that has witnessed many a local political protest in the past - a tradition that continues till today. 
To the south is the Cathedral Church of Holy Trinity an impressive piece of Gothic architecture dating back to the early 19th century. The Church boasts of a mahogany hammer beam that was designed in London and a high clock tower.  

A few minutes from Woodford Square is the Independence Square/Brian Lara Promenade that has a long history of christening. To make things easier, different sections of the square now bear different signboards. The beaches and chess tables lining the paved area have made this a popular after work local hangout. The high twin towers of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago dominate the skyline.

 Framed by the magnificent and lush green northern range, uptown Port of Spain is posh, urbane and trendy in comparison to the heaving and crowded downtown area. 

The main racecourse for many decades, the shady grassy expanse of Queen’s Park Savannah, ‘De Big Yard’, in colloquial parlance, is today the venue of many cricket, football matches and heated discourses among locals covering from politics to prices extending to their favourite sportsperson.

The Emperor Valley Zoo and the Botanical Gardens, north of the Queen’s Park are worth a look. Though small, the Zoo is home to a variety of animals – different species of deer, monkeys, snakes and parrots. The Botanical Gardens houses an exotic variety of tropical, sub – tropical and indigenous plants.

The Magnificent Seven are a bunch of ‘ seven magnificent’ palatial mansions constructed in the beginning of the 20th century by rival plantation owners in an attempt to out do each other. The result is a group of spectacular mansions that line Maraval Road. Though visitors are not allowed to enter the houses, the streets are full of tourists admiring the impressive European architecture. For a little peek into the islands’ history visit the National Museum that has sections dedicated to geology, archaeology, history and photos of Kings and Queens.