Why it's the capital
By 1757 the old capital, San José de Oruña, about 11 km inland, had fallen into disrepair, so Governor Don Pedro de la Moneda moved his seat to Port of Spain. It has been the island's capital ever since.
Port of Spain
Capital of Trinidad and TobagoPort of Spain is on the north-west coast of the island of Trinidad, on the Gulf of Paria, the calm bay between Trinidad and Venezuela. It lies between the gulf, the Northern Range and the Caroni Swamp.
Fun facts
- The Spanish founded it as Puerto España, near an Amerindian fishing village called Cumucurapo, meaning 'place of the silk cotton trees'.
- Queen's Park Savannah, about 110 hectares of open space, is called the world's largest traffic roundabout, and its Grand Stand has been the centre of Carnival since the early 20th century.
- On the western edge of the Savannah stand the Magnificent Seven, a group of late Victorian and Edwardian buildings in a mix of unusual styles.
Finding it on the globe
Trinidad is the island just off the coast of Venezuela. Port of Spain is on its north-west corner, facing the Gulf of Paria.
Sources: Wikipedia: Port of Spain