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Curacao Overview
Curacao History
Curacao Cruise Port
Curacao Attractions: Willemstad
Curacao Attractions: Outside Willemstad
​Curacao slideshow
​Curacao Museum
​Curacao Oldest Synagogue
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CRUISING TO THE CARIBBEAN:



CURACAO


ATTRACTIONS: WILLEMSTAD

Willemstad, Curaco
Willemstad, Curaco
Willemstad, Curaco
 Wiillemstad is a unique Caribbean city. Indeed, it is so unique that much of it is a UNESCO World Heritage site that encompasses 750 historic buildings.  The architecture is distinctly Dutch in origin but many of the historic buildings are painted in Caribbean pastels.  This reflects the fact that Curacao is a blend of cultures.

The city is divided by Sint Annabaai or St. Anna Bay.  The original city was founded in the 1630s by the Dutch on the eastern shore of the bay and is now called the
 Punda,  In the early 1700's, the government authorized the settlement of the "other side" of the bay, the Otrobanda. Over time that section has grown to almost the same size as Punda.

 In order to get from one side of the bay to the other, the locals use a pedestrian pontoon bridge, the 
Queen Emma Bridge (known locally as the "Swinging Old Lady").  When a ship wants to enter the bay, a siren is sounded and after everyone has crossed, the bridge is swung out to let the ship pass. While the bridge is open, a ferry boat shuttles people across.

Crossing the bridge is alo an interesting experience because it is floating and thus has something of the feeling of being on a ship.  It is free, fast and takes one from the heart of Otrobanda to the heart of Punda.
Right: The Brionplein in a large plaza on the Otrobanda side of the Queen Emma Bridge.  It is named after Pedro Luis Brion, who was born on Curacao in 1782 and fought under Simon Bolivar.
Willemstad, Curaco
Willemstad, Curaco
Willemstad, Curaco
Willemstad, Curaco
The Rif Fort was built between 1828 and 1829 to protect the entrance to St. Anna Bay.  At one time, it had 56 cannons as well as barracks for soldiers within its walls.  Today, it contains restaurants, bars and upscale shops.  However, visitors can still climb to the top of its battlements for good views of the sea and the city.

Museum Kurá Hulanda (below right) stands on the site of the island's slave depot.  Accordingly, it features exhibits about West African culture and the Slave Trade.

Also in Otrobanda is the 
Curacao Museum (see separate article) , which features the work of local and foreign artists.    ​

Curaco Museum
Willemstad, Curaco
Willemstad, Curaco
Willemstad, Curaco
Coming across the Queen Emma bridge into Punda, one 
immediately sees
 Fort Amsterdam. Shortly after the 
Dutch captured the island, they began building fortifications 
here in 1635.  The city then grew up around the fort. Some 
of the original fortifications are still visible.  However, most 
of the fort is now government offices and historic buildings.

Facing the bridge is the 
Governor's Palace (left).   This 
is the official residence and office of the representative of 
the Queen of the Netherlands. The governor is also the head 
of government of the country of Curacao.

Inside the fort is the
 Fortchurch (below left).  Built in 
1769, it is the oldest church in continuos use in Curacao.  It 
is unusually tall for its size.  This enabled the inhabitants of 
the fort to dry and store ship sails within the church.  The 
walls were built to withstand attack and there is a British 
cannon ball embedded in one of the exterior walls.

The fort also contains Curacao's 
Parliamnet Building 
(below).

Willemstad, Curaco
Willemstad, Curaco
 Not far from Fort Amsterdam is the Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue.  (​See separate article).  It is the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere. The synagogue is open to the public and the Jewish Cultural Museum is on the grounds.
Willemstad, Curaco
Willemstad, Curaco
Enhancing the traditional colors of Willemstad is contemporary art that one often comes upon unexpectedly (left).
The Postal Museum (right) is Punda's oldest standing building and dates from 1693.  It features a collection of international stamps and postal-related artifacts.
Willemstad, Curaco
Willemstad, Curaco
Picture Willemstad, Curaco
 The Floating Market  on the northern side of Punda is made up of boats from Venezuela, Columbia and other Caribbean islands that bring fresh fruit, fish and produce to Curacao.
Picture Willemstad, Curaco
Willemstad, Curaco
  Dutch-style draw bridges allow pedestrains to cross from Punda to the  Scharloo  district where some of the town's 
Jewish  merchants built mansions.  This area is also home to the 
Curaco Maritime Museum (above right). 
For more about cruising to Curacao

Click here for our introduction to Curacao
Click here for our page on the history of Curacao
Click here for our page on Curacao's cruise port
Click here for our page on attractions outside Willemstad
Click here for our Curacao slideshow
Click here for our page on the Curacao Museum
Cruise destination travel guide - Curacao - Curacao Attractions: Willemstad
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