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We've compiled the best of the best in Charlotte Amalie - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Stone quarried on the island was used for this church, which built in 1848 to commemorate the end of slavery in the USVI. It has thick, arched window frames lined with yellow brick that was used as ship ballast and left on the waterfront by merchants when they filled their boats with molasses, sugar, mahogany, and rum for the return voyage.
This historic (1793) church has a massive mahogany altar, and its pews—each with its own door—were once rented to families of the congregation. Lutheranism is the state religion of Denmark, and when the territory was without a minister, the governor—who had his own elevated pew—filled in.
The synagogue's Hebrew name, Beracha Veshalom Vegmiluth Hasidim, translates as the Congregation of Blessing, Peace, and Loving Deeds. The small building's white pillars contrast with rough stone walls, as does the rich mahogany of the pews and altar. The sand on the floor symbolizes the exodus from Egypt. Since the synagogue opened its doors in 1833, it has held a weekly service, making it one of America's oldest continuously operating synagogues and the second-oldest (after the one on Curaçao) in the western hemisphere. Guided tours can be arranged, and brochures detailing the key structures and history are available. Next door the Weibel Museum showcases Jewish history on St. Thomas.
Built in 1884, this church was named to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Moravian Church in the Virgin Islands.
Consecrated as a parish church in 1848, this building serves as the seat of the territory's Roman Catholic diocese. The ceiling and walls are covered with 11 murals depicting biblical scenes that were painted in 1899 by two Belgian artists, Father Leo Servais and Brother Ildephonsus. The marble altar and walls were added in the 1960s. Over a dozen statues of handcrafted saints represent the many nationalities of the congregants who worship here. Guided tours are available.
Founded in 1744, this church has been rebuilt twice after fires and hurricanes and retains an austere loveliness that's amazing considering all it's been through. The unembellished cream-color hall is quite peaceful. Call ahead if you wish to visit at a particular time, as the doors are sometimes locked.
