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Saint John's

Capital of Antigua and BarbudaSaint John's sits on the northwest coast of Antigua, wrapped around St. John's Harbour, which is deep enough for large ships.

Why it's the capital

The town was laid out after a French invasion in 1666, and in 1675 the island's lawmakers made it one of six official places of trade. It later became the seat of government of the British Leeward Islands, a role it kept until that colony ended in 1959.

Fun facts

  1. The white baroque towers of St. John's Cathedral rise above the rest of the city's skyline.
  2. Fort James stands at the entrance to St. John's Harbour, watching over the way in from the sea.
  3. Cruise ships dock at two quays in the city: Redcliffe Quay, known for its history, and the more modern Heritage Quay.

Finding it on the globe

Antigua is the island about 48 km south of Barbuda and east of St Kitts and Nevis. Saint John's is on its northwest coast.

Easy to mix up

Don't confuse it with St. John's in Canada, the capital of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. This Saint John's is in the Caribbean, on Antigua.

Sources: Wikipedia: St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda, Wikipedia: Antigua, Wikipedia: Barbuda, Wikipedia: St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador