- Balley Campbell
The Cultural and Historical Attractions in Jamaica
Jamaica is the fourth-largest island in the Caribbean by population and the third-largest by total area. While the island country’s doing pretty well today, it hasn’t always had it easy in the past. Marred by decades of enslavement and colonialism, the place has several stories to tell.
The following cultural and historical landmarks cement these stories, literally and figuratively.
Devon House
Devon House is a 51-acre estate located on Hope Road built in 1891 by George Stiebel, a Jamaican millionaire of German and Jamaican heritage. While the grounds are a testament to Jamaican wealth, Stieble didn’t make his riches on the island.
It’s believed that he made a sizeable fortune in nearby Venezuela before moving to Jamaica. Once there, the tycoon took up a job as a civic custodian at the St. Andrew Parish.
Since its initial construction and nationalization in 1968, the home has undergone two Victorian-style refurbishments, the last one taking place in 1974. Tour the rooms of this sprawling estate, which is open to visitors from Monday to Friday for seven hours during the day. The courtyard also features several modern restaurants for the travel weary.
Seville Heritage Park
Seville Heritage Park is an important historical landmark for Jamaica. The house standing on the plantation today wasn’t built until 1745 by a person with British military roots, but it was actually a landmark long before that.
The plantation is where Christopher Columbus first came in contact with the native Taino Indians in 1494, predating the house by almost 300 years. With ghost tales and legends aplenty, this place still bears the scars of its oft-violent past.
Today, the property is a tourist site and a spot for Emancipation Day celebrations to mark the end of slavery that continued even after it was officially abolished.
Sam Sharpe Square
The Same Sharpe Square is perhaps the best historical attraction Montego Bay offers. This little piece of downtown Montego is honorably named after the 1800s’ anti-slavery activist Sam Sharpe, a literate slave, and later preacher for a Baptist church when such a feat was equivalent to moving mountains.
Being literate wasn’t Sharpe’s only achievement. The preacher turned activist would lead the Baptist War against the Brits, end up getting hanged the slave rebellion, and feature on the $50 Jamaican banknote to this very day.
Enjoy Jamaica Attraction Tours with Balley Tours
Take a trip down Jamaica’s memory lane the right way. Book ground transportation from Montego Bay Airport with Balley Tours for everything, from hotel transfers to reliable tours in Montego Bay. Take in the sights, enjoy the culture, and explore a country that celebrates the best of its cultural past and present.
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