Saint John's, Capital city and port on northwest coast of Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda
Saint John's is the capital and a port on the northwest coast of Antigua, where urban life spreads around a protected bay and several commercial districts. The old town extends from the water to low hills, and the white towers of the Anglican cathedral rise above the surrounding buildings, visible from many points.
The settlement began in 1632 as a British colony and grew over the centuries into an important naval base during Caribbean conflicts. The harbor played a central role in sugar and other trade goods until the economy gradually shifted toward other activities.
The Anglican cathedral at the center draws many people for services and also acts as a landmark for visitors exploring the narrow streets of the old quarter. The colorful wooden houses around Redcliffe Quay recall colonial architecture and now shelter galleries, restaurants, and small shops where locals and travelers meet.
Cruise ships dock at two central piers, from which visitors step directly into shopping streets lined with stores, cafés, and small markets within walking distance. A stroll through the narrow lanes of the historic center leads to churches, museums, and small parks, and the paths are mostly flat and easy to navigate.
Two medical schools operate in a dedicated quarter of the city, where several buildings house laboratories and lecture halls. Students from many countries live here and bring life to surrounding streets with cafés, bookstores, and smaller dormitories rarely found elsewhere in town.
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