sight seeing
The Tom Adams
Financial Center
(Central Bank
Building)
At 10 stories, the Central Bank
stands the tallest building in
Barbados, at a cost of US $30
10
million the structure is also home
to a 500-seat concert theater
(the Frank Collymore Concert
Hall), which is used for shows,
exhibits, performing arts, lectures
& meetings.
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After changing hands several times,
in 1983, the government seized the
property and since 1985 the Barbados
National Trust has owned it.
The Neo-Gothic building, which is still
open for religious services, is home to a
museum, a unique drinking Montefiore
Fountain and a spring-fed Mikvah (ritual
bath, rediscovered by archeologists in
2008 ). The adjoining Jewish cemetery,
which is still in use, has tombstones
dating back to the 1630s. Opening Hrs:
Mon – Fri: 9am – 12pm and 1pm to 4pm.
Regiment from Barbados, the
property was handed over to
the Government; the park was
opened on 10th June 1909.
On site is a stately African
Baobab tree, roughly 1000
years old. It has a commanding
61.5-foot circumference, which
would need 15 adults with
outstretched arms to circle
the trunk. As such it is said to
be the largest known tree in
Barbados.
Caribbean Dreams | 61
Photos on this page provided by the Barbados Tourism Authority
The Nidhe Israel
Synagogue & Montefiore
Fountain
This Jewish Synagogue is said to be
the first one to be built in the Western
Hemisphere. Built by Jews from Recife,
Brazil who were fleeing from harsh Dutch
treatment. They brought with them their
skills and expertise in the sugarcane
industry, which had previously been
unexplored on the island. The Synagogue,
which was completed in 1654, was
destroyed by hurricane in 1834, rebuilt
in 1933, then subsequently sold in 1929.
qUEEN’S PARK
Queen’s Park was
originally established as
the residence of the commander
of the British Troops, in the
West Indies. Formerly known
as King’s House, before the
ascension of Queen Victoria to
the throne, it is now owned
by Government and managed
by the islands’ National
Conservation Commission.
In the early 1900’s, after the
withdrawal of the British
Looka De View