St. John's Cathedral

St. John's Cathedral, formally the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, is the great landmark of Antigua's capital. Its two baroque towers, about 70 feet tall and capped with aluminium cupolas, rise above the rooftops of St. John's and are one of the first things visitors see from the harbour and the cruise terminal.

The present cathedral is the third church to stand on this hilltop. Earlier buildings were destroyed by earthquakes in 1683 and 1745, and the current structure was begun in 1845, when Governor Sir Charles FitzRoy laid the foundation stone, and completed in 1848. It is built of local stone, and the interior is unusual: the inside is entirely encased in pitch pine, a measure intended to protect worshippers from earthquake and hurricane damage.

At the south gate stand two weathered figures of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, said to have been taken from a French ship in the 18th century. Inside, memorial tablets and an atmospheric timber-lined nave reward a quiet wander, and the churchyard holds gravestones spanning centuries of Antiguan history.

The cathedral sits within easy walking distance of the city's other sights, including the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda and the shops and market of the town centre. Entry is free, though a donation toward upkeep is appreciated. Dress modestly, as it is an active place of worship, and visit on a weekday morning to explore in peace.