The Rich History Behind Antigua’s Attractions
If there ever is such a thing as a real version of the concept of heaven on earth, then one would most definitely claim to have discovered it while visiting the gorgeous place known as Antigua (pronounced as an-TEE’gah). Antigua is the main land mass of the twin-island nation of Antigua & Barbuda and is also known in local parlance as Wadadli, which more or less means “our own”. It is the most developed and thriving among the islands of the Caribbean area mostly because of its chic and luxurious tourism industry, offshore banking and several other notable aspects.
Long before famed voyager Christopher Columbus supposedly named the island in 1493 in honor of the Santa Maria La Antigua Cathedral in Seville, Antigua has been inhabited by the indigenous West Indians (the Arawaks and the Caribs for example) and the nomadic Siboney Meso-Indians way before them (as early as 2400 B.C.). Successful pioneer settlements by the Spanish and French ushered in an era of European colonization. The Spaniards and French were then succeeded by the English who has since influenced much of Antigua & Barbuda’s history and culture. In 1684, the arrival of Christopher Codrington led to the explosion of Antigua & Barbuda’s large-scale sugar industry. By the end of the eighteenth century, the nation had become a vital strategic position as well as a booming outpost for commerce. Some of the major tourist attractions of Antigua & Barbuda (like the immaculately restored architecture of English Harbourtown, the converted or restored old sugar mills and the ruined fortifications) owe their existence to this historically rich era. One of Antigua’s most excellent physical assets is Nelson’s Dockyard (established by Admiral Horatio Nelson) in English Harbour. It remains there as a testament to Antigua’s old status as Great Britain’s most significant Caribbean naval base.
The traits that attracted the legendary Royal Navy to Antigua ages ago has since transformed the once strategic “gateway to the Caribbean” into one of the region’s premiere tourist destinations. Antigua is very much known for its’ intricate coastline of safe harbors, vibrant culture, dreamy beaches, a huge selection of tours and its’ perfect weather which is attributed to the famous Trade Winds. What once guided the British Sea Power safely into the English Harbour now fuel the internationally known Antigua Sailing Week, a yearly first-rate regatta which started in 1967. Accessibility is not a problem since there are flights into the island daily from all over the globe. Antigua’s single airport (V.C. Bird International Airport) is serviced by numerous major airlines including US Airways, American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Continental, Delta Air Lines, and Air Canada. Also, Antigua is a hub for further travel to the other islands within the Caribbean region. Vacationing in Antigua also boasts of a healthy range of things to do which are aimed to cultivate tourism. Activities like diving, snorkeling, yachting, trekking and several more are very much the norm. Accommodations vary from the world class to the adventurous and intimate. With an intense mix of “earth on paradise” feel (mostly due to Antigua’s divine beaches, etc.) and the intriguing and fascinating glimpse of “colonial” history, Antigua is certainly a destination worth seeking. Who knows, you might find your very own paradise in the process.
