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Basseterre Review

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Basseterre

Category: Religious Sites
Location: St. Kitts

Fodor's Review:

On the south coast, St. Kitts's walkable capital is graced with tall palms and flagstone sidewalks; although many of the buildings appear run-down, there are interesting shops, excellent art galleries, and some beautifully maintained houses. Duty-free shops and boutiques line the streets and courtyards radiating from the octagonal Circus, built in the style of London's famous Piccadilly Circus.

There are lovely gardens on the site of a former slave market at Independence Square (Off Bank St., Basseterre). The square is surrounded on three sides by 18th-century Georgian buildings.

St. George's Anglican Church (Cayon St., Basseterre) is a handsome stone building with a crenellated tower originally built by the French in 1670 and called Nôtre-Dame. The British burned it down in 1706 and rebuilt it four years later, naming it after the patron saint of England. Since then it has suffered a fire, an earthquake, and hurricanes and was once again rebuilt in 1869.

Port Zante (Waterfront, behind Circus, Basseterre) is an ambitious 27-acre cruise-ship pier and marina in an area that has been reclaimed from the sea. The domed welcome center is an imposing neoclassical hodgepodge, with columns and stone arches, shops, walkways, fountains, and West Indian-style buildings housing luxury shops, galleries, restaurants, and a small new casino. A second pier, 1,434 feet long, has a draft that accommodates even leviathan cruise ships. The selection of shops and restaurants (Tiffany Bar and Deli is a find for fantastic local fare) is gradually expanding as well.

In the restored former Treasury Building, the National Museum presents an eclectic collection reflecting the history and culture of the island. It's a collaboration of the St. Christopher Heritage Society and the island government. Bay Rd., Basseterre. 869/465-5584. EC$1 residents, US$1 nonresidents. Weekdays 9-5, Sat. 9-1.

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