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North Trinidad

By

Sheldon Waithe

October 16, 2020


Angostura Barcant Butterfly Collection

Eastern Main Road

Tel: 623-1841

Tours include a visit to the Barcant Butterfly Collection and Angostura museum; a tour of the Bitters manufacturing room, bottling plant and distillery and sampling of some of our locally manufactured products. Tours last approximately 2 hours and advanced bookings must be made.

http://themuseumathoa.trinidadeventspaces.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AngosturaMuseumAndBarcantButterflyCollection/

 

Angostura Rum and Bitters Museum

Eastern Main Road

Tel: 623-1841

Best known for its world-famous aromatic bitters and selection of rums, the Angostura Rum and Bitters Museum and Barcant Butterfly Collection are located at the House of Angostura in Laventille.  Visitors can tour the Angostura RumDistillery, as well as the Bitters’ Manufacturing Room before viewing the stunning 8,000 specimen of around 700 species of local butterflies on display.Advanced booking is required for the two-hour tour. http://www.angostura.com/contactus for more details.

 

Castle Killarney

Corner Serpentine and Maraval Roads Port of Spain

Tel: 358-5755

Castle Killarney (Stollmeyer’s Castle); the first of the Magnificent Seven, is located at the corner Maraval and Serpentine Roads has opened its doors as a Centre for Arts and Culture under the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts.

https://www.facebook.com/castlekillarneytt

Castle Killarney. Photo: Richard Lyder

Downtown Port of Spain

Northward on Abercromby Street we come to Woodford Square surrounded by several important buildings including the Old Fire Station built in 1896; the Red House to the west, the seat of Trinidad andTobago's Parliament with its history of political intrigue and on the northern side; the Hall of Justice representing Trinidad and Tobago's independent Judiciary. To the east of Pembroke Street is the Old Public Library, built in 1901 in neoclassical Colonial style. Next to the Old Public Library is the Port of Spain City Hall with its mural, Conquerabia, by artist Carlisle Chang, completed in 1962. On Frederick Street is the site of Greyfriars Church, recently demolished. On the southern side of the square is the Holy Trinity Cathedral, completed in 1818.

Trinity Cathedral.Photo: Ziad Joseph

Fort George

Fort George Road, Port of Spain

Fort George, which offers an awe-inspiring, panoramic view of the north of Trinidad and the Gulf of Paria, was built in the 1700s. The windy hilltop stronghold is open to the public daily, but caution is required so go with a guide or group.

Fort George. Photo: ChristopherAnderson

Holy Rosary RC Church

Park Street, Port of Spain

Throughout the capital you will find forts, churches and homes built in varied architectural styles that mirror the history of the islands. If you are around the city and would like to stop into Holy Rosary RC Church for Ecumenical Evening Prayer - the community gathers at 5:30p.m. for simple time together for Vespers.

Holy Rosary RC Church. Photo: Maria Nunes

Lopinot Estate

Lopinot, Arouca

For tours: 680-5423

The fertile cocoa estate near to Arouca is the former home of French soldier Compte Josef Charles de Lopinot de la Fresillière, presented with these lands in 1806 by the British for service in the war. https://www.facebook.com/lopinottours/

Lopinot Estate. Photo: Stephen Broadbridge

Magnificent Seven

Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain

On the western side of the Savannah, the Magnificent Seven buildings reflect several architectural influences. Starting with Queen's Royal College in German Renaissance style, then Hayes Court, the Anglican Bishop's House, indigenous in architectural style, using a combination of French Colonial and Scottish cast iron elements. Mille Fleurs has been described as being French Provincial in style. Room or was purchased by Timothy Roodal in 1940, and remains the family home. Room or is described as being FrenchSecond Empire in style.

Whitehall, Office of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. Photo: Richard Lyder

Memorial Park

Frederick Street, Port of Spain

On Abercromby Street we see Lord Harris Square, named after the British Governor from 1846 to 1854. Continuing on northward we then pass the Royal Jail, completed in 1812. Going east is Memorial Square, completed in 1924 and dedicated to those Trinidadians who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars. To the west of Memorial Square is the Royal Victoria Institute that houses the National Museum and ArtGallery. Immediately adjacent to the Royal Victoria Institute is the National Academy for the Performing Arts, formally opened in 2009.

Memorial Park. Photo: Soraya Gonsalves

Mt Saint Benedict

Tel: 662 2259 

The Benedictine monks picked the perfect perch for this 117 year old monastery. Epic views across Trinidad from upon high in the Northern Range reinforce the separation from the towns and cities below. Here, there is only serenity. Landscaped grounds, statues, a gift and tea shop selling jams and their famous Mount St Benedict yoghurt (produced in the same compound), add to the allure of this must-see historical site.

http://www.mountstbenedictabbey.org/

 

National Museum and Art Gallery

#117 Frederick Street, Port of Spain

Tel: 623-5941; 623-0339

A visit to the National Museum and Art Gallery, also known as the Royal Victoria Institute, with its seven galleries exhibiting fine art, social history, economics, petroleum and geology featuring over 10,000 artefacts and pieces of historical art, is a must. The National Museum also provides a history lesson in the Steelpan which originated in Trinidad and there is a smaller gallery dedicated to exhibiting the art of Michel-Jean Cazabon (1813-1888) and his engaging landscape and portrait paintings of Trinidad in the Nineteenth century.

Open Tuesday to Saturday • 10 am to 6 pm.

www.nmag.gov.tt

https://www.facebook.com/nationalmuseumandartgallerytt/

National Museum and Art Gallery. Photo:Stephen Broadbridge

Ortinola Estate

LP 11A Acono Road, Maracas

Tel: 294-8456

Our tours provide an insight into the rich legacy of Ortinola. We share the Ortinola story, have a guided walk through the Great House, followed by a short walk to our cocoa estate to explain more.

We then return to the Great House and drying house to explore the exciting process of how chocolate is made from cocoa!

http://www.ortinola.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ortinolagreathouse/

Ortinola Estate. Photo: Christopher Anderson

Queen's Park Savannah

In the 1900’s the Queen’s Park Savannah was a favoured park by many throughout the society, on weekends the women dressed in their 'Sunday best' and men in their suits and top hats, came to enjoy the horse and carriage races. Today, it has become a stomping ground for joggers and sport enthusiasts. It’s also best known as a “liming” spot for many who just want to enjoy a cold coconut water or snow-cone. The Savannah is flanked by the 'Magnificent Seven' elegant historical buildings which include Queen's Royal College, Room or House, Hayes Court, Mille Fleurs, the Archbishop's Place, White Hall and Stollmeyer's Castle. Also bordering the QPS is Queen’s Hall and the National Academy of Performing Arts, as well as one of the city's main attractions - the Emperor Valley Zoo.

Easter Kite Flying in the Savannah. Photo: Christopher Anderson

Woodford Square

Port of Spain

Woodford Square is a landmark in the nation's capital city and is sometimes referred to as the University of Woodford Square. It's here that the nation's first Prime Minister, Dr Eric Williams, initially lectured to citizens which led to the country's independence from Britain. Many pieces of Trinidad's history, and new buildings too, can be found on the outskirts of the Square including: the Hall of Justice, Trinity Cathedral, CityHall, and the Red House.

Woodford Square. Photo: Shaun Rambaran