Port of Spain between heritage and gardens

Port of Spain’s history is reflected in its buildings and squares, as well as in the landscape around Queen's Park Savannah. The Cabildo Building, Woodford Square and the Red House represent different aspects of the city’s cultural heritage. The Savannah and the Royal Botanic Gardens offer a different perspective on the area. The themes you want to shape your stay can also help guide your choice of holiday rental.

Cultural history and architecture

At the Cabildo Building, the thick walls in the “Latin Moorish Style” and the courtyard with its fountain stand out. Woodford Square is the centre of the Woodford Square Heritage District, the only Heritage District in the country approved by Cabinet. Since its completion in 1907, the Red House has served as the seat of government of Trinidad and Tobago.

Woodford Square and nearby cultural sites can be explored on a walking tour of the historic centre of Port of Spain. The historic mansions of the Magnificent Seven are also located around Queen's Park Savannah. They include Ambard's House / Roomor, Archbishop's Palace, Hayes Court, Killarney (Stollmeyer's Castle), Mille Fleurs, Queen's Royal College and Whitehall (Rosenweg). This group offers another way to explore the city’s architectural heritage: rather than focusing on a single square, it brings several houses into view together.

Queen's Park Savannah and its surroundings

The history of this open space is also part of the Savannah’s story: it was once part of the St Ann's Estate, where sugar was grown. Samaan and poui trees line the grounds and provide shade from the tropical sun for people walking there in the afternoon. In this way, the Savannah combines a connection to the past with a tangible impression of its landscape today.

Several places are located at Queen's Park Savannah: the Royal Botanic Gardens, The Hollows, the Emperor Valley Zoo, the National Museum and the National Academy of the Performing Arts (NAPA). The gardens are also situated at the foot of the Northern Range. This provides a useful reference for including the different places around the Savannah in your travel plans, without conflating them with a walk around Woodford Square.

Botanical gardens with several roles

The Royal Botanic Gardens are among the oldest botanical institutions in the Western Hemisphere. In addition to their location, they bring together public education, national heritage and plant conservation: they serve as a centre for all three. So, if you are interested in gardens, you will find more than just a green space here; they also offer access to education and plant conservation. Together with their location at the Savannah and at the foot of the Northern Range, the gardens provide a distinctive counterpoint to the city’s buildings and squares.

When looking for a holiday rental, you can start by considering which of these perspectives you want to shape your days. Woodford Square and a walk through the historic centre focus on cultural sites and city history; the Savannah and the places around it offer a different focus.

For the main travel overview: Port Of Spain.