Kingston, Jamaica's busy capital, offers a cosmopolitan contrast to the rest of the island's relaxed pace. On the southeast corner of Jamaica, at the foot of the Blue Mountains, Kingston is the center of the country's government and commerce. Historical and cultural attractions are on hand here in the birthplace of Jamaica's own reggae music.
Kingston can be intimidating. At first neither welcoming nor attractive, the city is diminished by squalor. Downtown, with its hustlers and street vendors, is neglected although redevelopment is underway. There is a pleasant contrast between modern houses and apartment buildings flanking 18th C Georgian homes with their porticos and balconies. A distinctly Jamaican dialect or patois which mixes elements of Portuguese, Spanish, English and African languages is spoken amongst Kingston's residents.
Kingston was founded in 1692 when survivors from the Port Royal earthquake relocated across the harbor. Most of Port Royal slipped into the sea after a subsequent tidal wave. Archaeological research is being performed on the undersea town.
A number of fine 18th C mansions, Kingston Parish Church c1699 and the Parade, a busy square where British soldiers once trained are other relics of the colonial period.
Kingston is home to the Norman Manley International Airport. Also a shipping center, it includes modern cruise ship facilities. Tours will take travelers to explore mansions like historic Devon House, the National Gallery, which houses a comprehensive collection of Jamaican art or the Bob Marley Museum.
The Blue Mountains, which form a picturesque backdrop for the city, can be reached after a short drive up from the Kingston for hiking and guided tours.
With 716,000 people, Kingston is the largest English-speaking city south of Miami and is the seventh largest natural harbor in the world.
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