The capital of Jamaica, Kingston, a city with an interesting history. St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral
Kingston - The capital of Jamaica, the largest city in the country. Kingston's population is about 600 thousand people. Kingston is the main port of Jamaica, located on the Caribbean coast. Kingston is the birthplace of reggae music, on the streets of the city there are many musicians performing this music.
sights
In Kingston there is something to see, there are a lot of tourists. Kingston is in a picturesque place, and walking along its streets, you can find many interesting places and attractions.
Downtown (Lower City) - This is the historical center of the capital of Jamaica. English colonial architecture has been preserved here. This is what the city looked like when it was the capital of the British colony.
New Kingston (New Kingston or New Town) - here the architecture is completely different, modern. This part of the city began to be built after Jamaica gained independence. There are many modern buildings, here are the main banks of the country and numerous government agencies.
Devon House Shopping District - Numerous tourists come here for shopping. There are many shops, markets, cafes, restaurants.
Mineral springs Rockford - Located on the outskirts of Kingston. On a hot day, numerous tourists and residents come here to drink water.
National Gallery - Here are paintings by Jamaican artists.
Royal house - This is the former residence of the Governor General of Jamaica. There are also many tourists.
Museums
We continue the review of this city with its museums.
Jamaica Armed Forces Museum - Here are samples of weapons and uniforms, which are now used in the army of Jamaica. There are many interesting historical photographs and documents on the development of the Jamaican army.
Museum of National History - the main museum of the country. There are many interesting exhibition halls, the exposition of which presents in detail the history of the country from ancient times to the present.
Museum of Geology - Gives visitors an idea of \u200b\u200bthe geological structure of this Caribbean island, about the minerals that are mined in Jamaica.
Museum of Natural History - talks about the flora and fauna of Jamaica.
Zoo museum - there are many interesting exhibits dedicated to animals living on the island.
Bob Marley Museum - is in the house where the famous Jamaican rock musician and singer Bob Marley lived and worked. Here the interior of the house, which was during the life of this wonderful person, was preserved intact.
Fort Charles Maritime Museum - It is located in the place where Kingston was once founded. It is from this fort that the history of the city originates. Here are some interesting historical documents.
Map
History
The city was founded in 1693 by English colonists after they became full owners of the island of Jamaica.
In 1944, Jamaica received the status of self-governing dominion, and Kingston became the administrative center.
In 1962, Jamaica receives complete independence from Great Britain; Kingston becomes the capital of a new state.
Monuments
There are several interesting monuments in Kingston:
- a memorial to Bob Marley, a Jamaican rock musician and singer;
- a monument to John MacDonald, an American writer;
- a monument to the liberation of the people from slavery.
Places of worship
Kingston's main cathedral is St. Catherine’s Catholic Church.
Train stations
There is no train station in Kinsgton, there is only a freight line that is used to transport goods.
Parks
Kesleton Botanic Garden - one of the most beautiful parks in the city. Here are collected plants from all continents of the planet most of all - from the Caribbean.
Climate
Kingston's climate is tropical. There is no change of seasons, hot summers all year round.
Quite gloomy stories are told about Kingston, the capital of Jamaica.
The leitmotifs of these horror stories are drugs and banditry that filled the island and its capital. What can I answer? Only that rumors, as it usually happens, are very exaggerated.
Each city can become dangerous for a tourist who does not take into account the traditions and mentality of the people of the country in which he arrived to stay. In all countries, without exception, it is necessary to observe elementary rules of self-preservation.
Those who have rejected baseless fears and have visited Jamaica at least once will never forget it.
Kingston attracts tourists the opportunity to visit the Bob Marley Museum, look at the world famous St. Thomas Cathedral and enjoy water sports.
This, no doubt, ambiguous and interesting city with a complicated history and distinctive traditions has prepared a lot of interesting things for inquisitive guests.
A bit of history
Jamaica, before the arrival of Columbus, was inhabited by numerous tribes of Arawak Indians.
In just over 100 years of Spanish domination, not a single representative of the indigenous population remained on the island. As labor in Jamaica, slaves brought from Africa were used.
In 1655, the island and "profitable business" captured the United Kingdom. Kingston was founded by British immigrants in 1693, the city very quickly turned into the largest slave trade center on earth.
Thanks to the favorable climatic conditions and incredibly cheap labor, Kingston began to produce cane sugar and very quickly became one of its largest suppliers on the planet.
After the abolition of slavery in 1833, planters continued their efforts to recruit former slaves. on plantations by force, which led to the uprising in 1865.
After that, the British government was forced to create an administrative system, the center of which was Kingston.
After many shocks and trials Jamaica declared independence, and Kingston became its capital.
How to get to Kingston
Norman Manley International Airport is located in the immediate vicinity of the Jamaican capital, you can get to the center by one of the regular minibuses or taxi.
Most flights arrive at Montego Bay Airport, located on the opposite side of the island, so you have to get on the bus within 4 hours, estimated taxi fare is $ 200.
Russians need to fly with a transfer to the United States, in which case a transit visa is required.
With a transfer in one of the European countries (Rome, London) a visa is not needed, but the cost of tickets is higher.
A relatively cheap ticket for Jamaica with a change in Cuba. It is possible to arrive on a cruise ship, but only between November and April.
A visa is issued directly upon arrival in Jamaica at the airport.
Is it worth it to rent a car in Kingston
There is no particular need for this. From the city you can get to almost anywhere in Jamaica by public transport or taxi.
Traveling around Kingston is also absolutely hassle-free, taxis, for security reasons, it is better to book directly at the hotel.
Buses and fixed-route taxis run around the city from 5-00 to 22-00.
To rent a car, if there is a need for it, only citizens who have reached the age of 23 years and have an international driver's license can.
It is better to contact one of the proven and long-established companies in the market: Island Car Rentals, Budget or Avis.
Behind the wheel you need to be very careful, the locals are very dashing and reckless driving style.
Money and shopping in Kingston
Most banks with exchange offices are located on Knutsford Boulevard. They work from Monday to Friday.
One American dollar is approximately equal to one hundred Jamaican.
Kingston is the economic center of the island, it goes without saying that there are many shopping centers and shops.
Required worth a wander around the New Kingston Shopping Center, where you can buy products of world famous brands and local manufacturers.
Souvenirs, wood crafts, natural soap and clothes made from plant materials can be bought at almost every corner.
You should not buy products from tortoise-shell, in Jamaica this material is illegal.
Kingston Accommodation
In this regard, the city offers a huge variety, as they say, for every taste and material possibilities. There are a lot of hotels price for accommodation ranges from $ 45 to $ 200 per night.
The level of comfort directly depends on the price, although you can find very good places for a reasonable fee.
It is possible to rent a villa from a private owner, for a company of several people - a very profitable option.
Fun and relaxation
Leisure
Kingston is not the resort center of Jamaica, but the conditions for relaxing on the water here are truly excellent. You can ride on everything that rests on the water: water skiing, sailboats, windsurfing.
For those who are not yet professional, services of experienced instructors are provided. Fans of scuba diving and rafting down the river gather on the southern beaches.
Especially popular the ability to rent a boat with a transparent bottom, while swimming you can admire the underwater world.
Night life
Kingston’s nightlife is intense and interesting, though unsafe. For tourists it is better to limit yourself to clubs located on Knutsford Boulevard.
Horse racing
On weekends horse racing is held at the Caymanos Park Racecourse, the sight is very interesting.
Carnival
Lucky ones who visited Kingston during the Easter week, can never forget the Jamaican Carnival, has become the traditional and most popular event on the island.
About 1 million people take part in it.
The procession through the streets in carnival costumes is called children's, the procession for adults is recognized as more popular, in which you can march through the city streets almost naked.
Not without reggae, local and visiting musicians perform right on the streets, music sounds everywhere and around the clock.
Restaurants
Kingston restaurants do not offer visitors any special delights. Numerous cafes treat customers with both European and local dishes.
Jamaican cuisine combines the traditions of many peoples, a distinctive feature is a huge number of spices.
Required it’s worth trying the Skyjus cocktail served in a coconut, made from fruit syrup and ice crumbs, the locals love him very much.
Patties stuffed with salted mackerel soaked in coconut milk are delicious.
And of course famous Jamaican rum, local fruits, seafood and coconuts - all worth a try while staying in jamaica.
Kingston Attractions
First place that must visit, Bob Marley Museum. Jamaicans seriously consider this legendary musician a god.
Tourists can view and worship the house in which Bob lived and the recording studio in which he created his masterpieces. A very sweet legend is associated with the house and the room of the star.
As you know, Bob Marley was incredibly prolific not only in music.
He had a lot of illegitimate children, in connection with this there was a tradition - a barren woman who managed to touch the musician’s bed would certainly be able to get pregnant.
Small but very interesting, arawaki Museum must also be visited. Very little evidence has come down to us about the life and life of the indigenous people of the island.
All that was saved is in the museum. A huge collection of works by local painters is collected in the national gallery in Roy West Building, she is admirable, believe me.
Emancipation Park is not only a tourist attraction, but also a very beautiful and interesting place. Locals here prefer to spend weekends and picnics.
The park has an interesting botanical garden. You can admire the most beautiful fountains and see the infamous sculpture “Song of Deliverance”.
Jamaica Video Tour
Do you like the article?
Subscribe to site updates via RSS, or stay tuned
It belongs to the Canadian province of Ontario and is located on the eastern coast of Lake Ontario, namely in the place where it flows into the local river, named after St. Lawrence. Very close is the mountain chain of the archipelago, called the Thousand Islands.
About 117 thousand people live in the city, and if we take into account the suburbs, then about 153 thousand people. Locals call “Limestone City”, which is translated as “from limestone”. This is easy to explain, since there are so many buildings built precisely from this building material. The central part visually looks like a peninsula washed by the waters of Lake Ontario from the south, and from the west and east by the waters of the Cataraqui and Little Cataraqui rivers, respectively.
It is equidistant from the cities and, we can say that it is located just in the middle between these cities and is located at the intersection of the three main transport routes of central Canada. In this case, we are talking about the Saint Lawrence Seaway Sea Route, the Ontario Highway 401 Expressway, and the Canadian National Railroad. In addition, the local Norman Rogers Airport, which provides regular flights to Canada, is an important transportation facility. Such comfort from the point of view of transport is very relevant, since there are 2 famous universities in Kingston: Queen's University and Royal Military College of Canada, as well as St. Lawrence College.
Among the mentioned educational institutions, Queen’s University is perhaps the most popular, since the oldest radio station in the world, CFRC, has been operating on its territory for many decades. The city also has significant resources for its social significance, since it operates here the largest group of federal prisons, including the Kingston Penitentiary, which is Canada’s most notorious correctional facility.
Kingston serves as the administrative center of Frontenac County. From the history of the city it is known that in the 17th century an Indian settlement existed on these lands, and specifically in 1673, La Salle founded Fort Frontenac here. In addition, it is worth noting that in the period 1841-1844, Kingston had to play the role of the capital of a united Canada.
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica. Located in the Caribbean; urban agglomeration of 580 thousand inhabitants. Located in a natural harbor, protected by the long and narrow oblique Palisados, connecting Port Royal and the international airport with the rest of the island. Kingston is the largest English-speaking city in the entire Caribbean. Kingston is not only the capital of Jamaica, but also a busy port, the center of the clothing and food industries. The city was founded in 1693 by Great Britain. In 1872, the city of Jamaica was located in the city. The city received the status of a capital when the island gained independence in 1962. The poor neighborhoods of Kingston (Trenchtown) is the birthplace of reggae music, which developed on the basis of ska music - a mixture of African, European and Latin American motifs. The city consists of two parts - the historic center and New Kingston.
In January 1976, interstate agreements were signed in the city of Kingston. As a result, the Jamaican currency system of floating rates is currently operating in the world.
Information
- Country: Jamaica
- Founded: 1693
- Area: 480 km²
- Population: 580 thousand people (2009)
- Time Zone: UTC-5
Climate of Kingston
Kingston has a flat tropical climate. There is no pronounced wet and dry season, although the maximum rainfall occurs in September-November, often due to tropical cyclones, and the minimum falls in January-April. The climate is very hot: the average temperature all year round is very high, and averages 28 ° C. At the same time, the climate is very even: the temperature never rose above 37.3 ° C and did not fall below 13.4 ° C.
Population
The population of Kingston is 580 thousand people. Most of the population are Africans (more than 70%) and mestizos (about 15%). The rest are from Europe and Asia. The official language is English, but most residents of the capital use the local dialect.
Tourism
The nature of Jamaica attracts many lovers of exotic landscapes to Kingston. The largest influx of tourists to the capital is observed from December to May: at this time in hotels and restaurants, prices increase significantly. Visiting a nightclub or a disco in one of the restaurants in the city, visitors can have fun under the wonderful reggae music, of which Kingston is home. In the spring, an extremely massive and spectacular holiday is held in the capital - a carnival, and at the end of December you can become a member of the Dzhonkanu festival dedicated to Catholic Christmas.
Among the few interesting places in the capital, one can distinguish the National Gallery in Roy West Building with an extensive collection of works by local artists, the Institute of Jamaica, the Conference Center, the Royal House (the former governor’s residence, 
now there is a museum) and St. Catherine’s Cathedral (XVII century), the Museum of the Armed Forces, the Museum of National History, the Museum of Geology, the Museum of Archeology located in the historical part of Port Royal, the Museum of Natural History, Arawaki Museum, Zoological Museum, Rockford mineral springs, shopping the Devon House area, the green Boon Oesis, Caesleton Botanical Gardens, Caymanas Park, National Dance Theater, African Museum, Fort Charles Maritime Museum and, of course, the Bob Marley Museum in the singer’s former home. Some variety is made by folk street orchestras playing traditional reggae, as well as noisy street markets.
Port Royal
It is the subject of many adventure novels and the former pirate capital of the Caribbean. Here, the ruins of the city and the fishing village have been preserved. And, of course, the fort, the historical heritage and pride of the locals.
St. Peter's Church
The majestic and ancient building. Which still holds the trophy dish of Henry Morgan, made of silver, once captured by him in Panama in the Cathedral. At the church, the old cemetery has been preserved. On which you can see the old exquisite tombstones of that era.
National Gallery
This is the pantry of Jamaican art in all its splendor. Here are the most worthy works of Jamaican artists. It is simply impossible to convey in words the pictures stored in the gallery, this must be seen. Also here you can see the team statue of Bob Marley.
Bob Marley Museum
Arriving at the museum, the first thing you can see is the Ethiopian flag above the entrance and the monument to B. Marley. The museum itself is nothing more than the house in which Bob lived. It contains a cinema hall and an exhibition gallery. Now, the house conducts hour tours and watching documentaries about the life of Marley.
William Grant Park
In appearance, this is the most standard park, like many others in the world, but along its perimeter there are passage streets leading their travelers to the historic buildings of the city. Such as: old churches, houses of ordinary people and the Bard Theater. Walking around the city you can see both the park itself and its exquisite leading out onto the streets.
National Heroes Park
A unique combination of a park zone with a zone of a heroic cemetery. Here you can get acquainted with the history of each of the buried heroes and thereby pay tribute to their past. In addition, the monuments themselves have a very interesting structure, which will make it possible to make several shots in memory of their stay in this place.
Royal Botanic Garden Hoop Garden
The garden is not as magnificent as others in different cities of the world. However, it is still quite attractive from the aesthetic side. The nature of this climate zone is still different for its vegetation and the beauty of local flowers.
Headquarters House, Gordon House
Not a very funny structure in appearance, but worth it to see. Still, it’s much more interesting to see a panel house, on the contrary, on the wall of which there is a gorgeous fresco from those that could only be seen.
Negril Beach
Negril Beach, located in the western part of the island, is one of the best beaches not only in Jamaica, but also, according to travel magazines, one of the ten best beaches in the world.
Originality, wild unforgettable nature give this place a special charm. The beach is 7.5 kilometers long, today it is the largest tourist complex, famous for its hotels and leisure opportunities.
Fans of diving and diving will appreciate the south coast with easy access to water - the most suitable place for scuba diving. You can spend the day here on the beach, under water or hide from the sun, go for a walk in the caves, and in the evenings, listening to Jamaican motifs, enjoy the sunset from the beautiful Rick Cafe.
Restaurant Akbar
Wanting to dine in the restaurant atmosphere in Kingston, the best place for this purpose will be the Akbar Restaurant. A place where the aroma of Indian cuisine reigns. The restaurant is quite roomy, has 4 rooms in green colors. You can also dine in the local garden, where you can hear the sounds of falling water from the fountain. If Indian cuisine is not to your liking, you can also order oriental dishes, here they can cook everything from seafood, meat dishes to a vegetarian menu. Reception of restaurant guests is designed for a different category of people with different passions.
Kingston virtual tour (video)
A source. wikipedia.org, avia-mir.ru
An amazing city in which the national flavor of the local population is preserved, but which at the same time is the economic center of the country - all this can be said with confidence about Kingston. The city, in the bars of which pirates once celebrated a successful sea outing, today looks quite civilized and modern. But the colonial buildings of the capital, the colorful locals, as well as the spirit of adventure literally floating in the air - all this clearly indicates that you have arrived in a unique place!
Climate and weather
Kingston lies in the tropical climate zone. Therefore, there are no significant temperature fluctuations depending on the time of year. The average annual temperature in Kingston is +31 ° C. The rainy season in the capital lasts from May to November. Most precipitation falls in the autumn months, so winter and early spring are a good time to relax in Kingston. The water temperature off the coast of the Caribbean Sea, on which the capital is located, does not fall below +26 ° C throughout the year.
However, the tropical climate has its drawbacks. For example, intermittent hurricanes and tornadoes. The last devastating hurricane happened in Kingston in 1988.
Nature
The nature of the city is quite diverse. In the urban area you can see eucalyptus trees, the Caribbean pine, and the cotton tree. In the vicinity of the capital, you can enjoy various types of orchids. In some places in the coastal areas of Kingston, mango thickets have been preserved.
Iguanas, bats, and some species of snakes live directly in the city. In addition, a huge number of birds live in the city - more than 200 species. Among them are hummingbirds and parrots.
sights
Kingston is an amazing city where you will find many interesting places.
To begin with, it is in Kingston that the museum of a man is located, which many Jamaicans consider almost a god, and this man is Bob Marley. Here you can see not only bob Marley's housebut also the star’s living room. A recording studio, where the musician once worked, was opened for inspection. In 2006 bob Marley House Museum was recognized as a national monument of Jamaica.
Noteworthy national Gallery of Roy West Buildingwhere a huge collection of paintings by local authors is presented.
It will be especially interesting to visit arawaki museum, the exposition of which tells about the life of the indigenous inhabitants of the island of Jamaica - the Arawak Indians.
Kingston is located Heroes National Park, where sculptures of people who played an important role in the struggle for the independence of Jamaica are installed on an area of \u200b\u200bmore than 30 hectares. Since we are talking about parks, you can’t lose sight of Emancipation Parkdefeated at Kingston in 2003. It is rather a huge green meadow, where the townspeople love to organize picnics. The park has a botanical garden and many fountains. It is here that the notorious sculptural composition "Song of Deliverance".
On the main square of the city is Royal house. Previously, the house of the Anglican bishop was located on this place, today a museum works here. By the way, Royal house of kingston can be seen in the first part of the James Bond film, shot in 1962 (the building acted as the house of government).
Nutrition
Kingston is surprising in the number of cafes and restaurants that offer both familiar European cuisine and exotic local cuisine.
Jamaican cuisine combines the traditions of many nations. Dishes are prepared with a huge amount of spices and seasonings. The combination of products in traditional dishes is unusual for an unprepared person, but still very tasty. Especially popular on the island are pies stuffed with shrimp in pepper or salted mackerel soaked in coconut milk. Jamaican traditional breakfast is fruit Akki, which tastes like an ordinary boiled egg.
Be sure to try so beloved by the locals skygus cocktail. It is made from fruit syrup and ice crumbs, and served directly in coconut.
Residence
Finding the right accommodation in Kingston is no big deal. There are many hotels here, the cost of services of which is very different from each other and ranges from $ 45 (a night in a three-star hotel) to $ 200 (for a five-star room). In addition, there is always the option of renting a villa from private individuals. The cost of a house with eight beds will be about $ 550 per week.
Fun and relaxation
In Kingston, all conditions for recreation on the water are created. On the beaches there are instructors, under whose guidance you can go windsurfing or sailing, as well as go water skiing. You can also go scuba diving on the southern beaches of the city. You can also rent a boat with a transparent bottom. Strolling on such a boat through the lagoon, you can see the underwater life of the Caribbean.
Rafting is popular on the southern coast of the capital. Here you can raft down a river located between lavender meadows.
Nightlife boils on the metropolitan knutsford Boulevard - Here is the majority of Kingston nightclubs.
Kingston Passes During Easter Week Jamaican Carnival. Despite the fact that for the first time a colorful procession passed through the streets of the city only in 1989, the carnival quickly gained popularity. Today, more than 1 million people participate in the festival. In the days of the carnival, street concerts of local groups take place, reggae motifs are heard everywhere, people in colorful costumes walk through the streets (and often almost without them, so the carnival in Kingston is divided into a children's and an adult procession).
Purchases
Kingston is the economic center of Jamaica, and, of course, many shopping centers are located here. The most modern shopping center of the country is New Kingston Shopping Center - gathers under one roof both stores of world famous brands and small retail outlets of local manufacturers. Here you can buy Jamaican souvenirs - a variety of wood products, as well as clothing made from plant materials.
Transport
Kingston is located near the international airport. From the airport to the city can be reached by taxi or by special bus.
Buses, fixed-route taxis and private taxis run around the city, for which a uniform tax is set for the trip. This means that the fare between certain points is fixed. The amount of payment for a taxi for intercity travel is considered at a double rate.
Kingston offers car hire. To do this, you must be at least 25 years old. You will also need an international driver’s license obtained at least a year ago. The cost of renting a car is approximately $ 60.
Communication
Kingston is in the coverage area of \u200b\u200bthe GSM-900 standard. Roaming of the main mobile operators of Russia works here. In the capital, you can use the services of an Internet cafe, for which you have to pay about $ 5 per hour.
Security
The capital of Jamaica is quite safe, but you should not visit remote areas of the city alone. It is strongly not recommended to walk along the city beach at night. You should also be careful at airports, hotels, shopping centers, since the level of thefts in Kingston is quite high.
No vaccines or vaccinations are required to visit Jamaica. However, taking into account the high level of drug addiction in Kingston, it should be remembered that there are a high number of cases of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.
Business climate
Kingston has created certain concessions for investors in the tourism sector. However, it is worth considering that the competition in the field of recreation is very high.
In addition, gambling is legalized in Kingston, as well as throughout Jamaica. But here there is one difficulty: before the new casino will be licensed, the owner needs to build a hotel for at least 2000 places.
The property
Anyone can buy property in Kingston. True, it will cost a lot, for example, a studio apartment near the center of Kingston will cost about $ 4,500,000. 2% of the value of the property will cost legal support for the transaction, and another 9% - mandatory property insurance.
In Kingston, you should refrain from buying products from tortoise-shell, since here this material is illegal. Also, in no case, even as a joke, you can not pronounce words such as "Negro", "racist", "black", as this can very strongly offend local residents.
It is worth being very careful while driving, as the local driving style is notorious and reckless.
