Belize City – Perfect Place For History Lovers!

Belize is known around the world not only for its breathtaking natural beauty but also its ancient monuments. Belize City especially is seeped in history, its landscape liberally dotted with historical monuments and buildings.

In fact, there are many places in Belize City that need more than 2-3 hours to explore fully, such as:

Street Tourism Village

Specifically designed for ship passengers to experience Belize in a unique way, Fort Street Tourism Village is located near the Haulover Creek. Architecturally similar to an open-air Mini-Mall, the Village has three terminals and three courtyards with a house full of variety of stores and businesses, where tourists can enjoy best of both the worlds- air-conditioned facilities and fresh tropical breezes.

Baron Bliss Lighthouse Monument

The Baron Bliss Lighthouse Monument located at Fort George Point towers over the harbor entrance is one of the major attractions found in the Belize City. This beautiful monument is actually a tribute to Belize’s greatest benefactor Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss, the 5th baron of Portugal. To fulfill his last wish, he was entombed in front of the lighthouse. The view of the lighthouse can be enjoyed from the high seawall which is referred to as “Fort Point” by the fishermen and boatmen.

St. John’s Cathedral

Located at the south end of Albert Street, St. John’s Cathedral is the oldest building in Belize. In fact, this is the oldest Anglican Church in the world outside of England where the crowning of several Kings of Mosquito Coast took place during 1812 to 1824. This beautiful church was built from red colored bricks brought to Belize as ballast by ships sailing from Europe.

House of Culture Museum

Once the residence of colonial governors, House of Culture Museum located in Belize City is a now a historical museum. It hosts a permanent exhibition of classic furniture, historical photos, authentic silverware and glassware collection. The building itself, built in the early 1800s, is a beautiful combination of Caribbean Vernacular and English Urban architecture.

Bliss Institute for the Performing Arts

Bliss Institute for the Performing Arts serves as the cultural center of Belize City. Initially it used to house the Belize Arts Council, library and a museum of Mayan artifact. However after a recent renovation, it has got a role as the primary performance arm of the Museum of Belize. It hosts a wide variety of events such as theater performances, film festivals, dance troops, and community events.

Museum of Belize

Initially designed as a colonial prison in the mid 1800s, this double storey historic brick building located on Gabourel Lane is today the Museum of Belize. It features a beautiful assortment of historical photographs, documents, and artifacts along a permanent exhibit of ancient Mayan pottery and other archaeological findings. The age old prison cells are being restored to their original condition today, to allow visitors to relive its stark past.

Supreme Court Building

Built in 1926, Supreme Court Building is another landmark of Belize City. Constructed of reinforced concrete in a classic British colonial style with a dome topped clock tower, the Supreme Court Building is a beautiful work of classic architecture. The building is located on the same site where the original courthouse was built in 1818.

Swing Bridge

The southern and northern side of Belize City is connected by the Swing Bridge. Built in 1922, this old bridge is the only functional manually operated swing bridge left in the world. Everyday it opens twice to make a passage for sailboats and other large boats to pass through the river.

Apart from these places, there are many more places of Belize City that might attract you. This is a paradise for history, anthropology and architecture buffs and the beauty of the place has even compelled many to think of moving to Belize City permanently.

For a memorable vacation in Belize, it is important to plan your holiday beforehand by consulting a reputed travel agency. A good Belize vacation rental package or Belize jungle vacation package can help you a lot in this regard.

Indonesia Outdoor Furniture by Edward John Wilson