TRINIDAD
History | Food & Drink | Sports & Recreation | Sightseeing

Trinidad's History
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Several Amerindian tribes originally inhabited Trinidad, including the Caribs. Christopher Columbus, when he sighted the island in 1498, called the island La Trinidad for the Holy Trinity. He claimed it for Spain, but a permanent settlement was not established until 1592. The 1600's saw raids by the Dutch and French, but the Spanish retained control. Crop failures kept the island poor until 1783, when a Spanish proclamation offered land grants to immigrants willing to develop agriculture and commerce. In 1797, attracted by the resulting prosperity, the British sent an expedition that gained control of the island. Trinidad was formally ceded to Great Britain in 1802.

In 1888 Trinidad and Tobago were united politically. The richest and second largest country of the British West Indies, the islands acquired independence within the commonwealth in 1962. In 1976, Trinidad and Tobago became a republic, with the capital at Port of Spain, Trinidad. The prime minister is elected by the people, and the president is chosen by the electoral college.

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Trinidad's Food & Drink
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The food on Trinidad is as cosmopolitan as the island; British, American, Continental, Creole, Chinese and Indian dishes are available. The local rum is a favorite in fruit punches.

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Trinidad's Sports & Recreation
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The island's American heritage surfaces in three art forms: calypso, satirical songs on tropical themes, limbo dancing, and steel drum bands. Beautiful beaches line the coast of Trinidad and none is less than an hour's drive from Port of Spain.

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Trinidad's Sightseeing
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Port of Spain

Busy markets, exotic houses of worship and modern buildings give Port of Spain a cosmopolitan atmosphere. The city has been the capital of Trinidad since 1757 and the capital of both Trinidad and Tobago since they united in 1889. From the hills north of the city, the coast of Venezuela can been seen across the Gulf of Paria.

San Fernando

Trinidad's second largest city, is built on a hill on the Gulf of Paria. Sugar estates and factories are nearby; oil fields lie to the southeast.

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