The Circus

Prepare yourself as you begin your historical journey from your hotel or the cruise port. Our tour begins upon arrival into Basseterre the city with an informative drive around the city for approximately 45 minutes. Basseterre: As the capital city of St. Kitts, Basseterre is home to several historical landmarks. Independence Square, formerly known as Pall Mall Square, is the heart of the city the Berkeley Memorial Tower Clock, and the St. George's Anglican Church. The Circus, a roundabout modeled after London's Piccadilly Circus was created after a fire destroyed the east of West Independence Square on July 4th, 1867. When Basseterre was rebuilt it was decided to widen the streets and design this roundabout for the ease of movement of fire trucks to avoid a reoccurrence. A clock monument featuring clocks and water fountains was erected and dedicated to a well-known legislator Thomas Berkeley in 1883. The tour guide will pause for 10 minutes at the Circus Clock.

Independence Square

Independence Square; formerly Pall Mall Square, was renamed on the 19th of September 1983 to commemorate the birth of the new nation of St. Christopher and Nevis. Its layout was designed to look like a Union Jack and the streets and houses surrounding it once dated to the mid-eighteenth century. Time and the environment have damaged or destroyed many of them. St Theresa Catholic Church CO-CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION is an ornate church constructed out of grey stone. In the early years of the French occupation of St. Kitts, the Jesuits built a Roman Catholic Church and dedicated it to Our Lady, Notre Dame. It was burned in 1706 during the Anglo-French war and rebuilt later as St. Georges Anglican Church. In 1713 the English forbade public worship of the Catholic religion in St. Kitts. Wealthy Catholic families erected cupolas on the tops of their houses as a sign for other Catholics to come and worship. Only two such buildings remain in Basseterre both on Liverpool Row.