Jamestown, Capital settlement on Saint Helena Island, South Atlantic Ocean.
Jamestown is a port settlement in the northwest of Saint Helena Island in the South Atlantic, spread in a narrow valley between high volcanic rock faces. The main street runs parallel to the coast, lined with historic houses and public buildings.
The settlement was founded in 1659 as an outpost of the British East India Company and served ships on the route between Europe and Asia as a supply point. Napoleon spent his final years here after exile in the early 19th century.
The townscape shows white facades from the 18th and 19th centuries lining the narrow main street, reflecting its past as a seafaring outpost. Locals often gather in the shade of old trees at the central square, where shops and offices stand.
Visitors reach the town via the harbor or by road from the airport in the east of the island. Most shops and facilities concentrate along the short main street, which is easy to explore on foot.
A steep stairway with 699 steps connects the valley with an old fortification on the hill above the town. The structure was built in 1829 and originally served to bring soldiers more quickly to their post.
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