Bridgetown, Capital city in Saint Michael Parish, Barbados
Bridgetown is the capital city of Barbados in Saint Michael Parish, sitting on Carlisle Bay with its natural harbor and the Careenage waterway. Stone buildings and colonial architecture define the historic center along the bay.
English settlers founded the city in 1628, first calling it Indian Bridge after a wooden crossing built by indigenous people. The natural harbor quickly turned it into a trading center in the Caribbean.
Parliament has met without interruption since 1639, making it one of the oldest continuously operating legislatures in the western hemisphere. Members still gather in the Gothic Revival buildings for official sessions today.
The port receives cruise ships and cargo vessels, linking the island to major sea routes across the Caribbean. Most sights in the historic center can be reached on foot.
The Nelson statue in National Heroes Square was raised in 1813, making it 27 years older than the London monument. It stands as the oldest Nelson memorial across the Commonwealth.
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