St John's

St John's

On the west coast is the capital, Saint John's, the main center of the island. It is a cosmopolitan port of call for cruise ships, and a ferry to Barbuda. Despite being the capital, Saint John's is unfortunately a very poor town, and this is reflected in the vast majority of its buildings. Apart from the Heritage Quay area, most of the buildings are actually relics, some in better condition, some in worse. There are also several museums, including the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda and the Museum of Marine Art, a small facility containing fossilized rocks, volcanic stones, petrified wood, a collection of more than 10,000 shells and artefacts from British shipwrecks. The Botanical Garden is located near the intersection of Factory Road and Independence Avenue. The small park's shaded benches and pavilion provide a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of St. John's.