Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine January 2019 | Page 38

Martello Tower
places of interest
Darby’s Cave
With a diameter of about 3 feet and cliffs about 70 feet high, Darby’s Cave, a sink hole, is probably the
most interesting of Barbuda’s natural features. Although surrounded by dry bush-type land, the hole
is home to a lush mini-rainforest forest, creating its own unique ecosystem. A constant trickle of water
down the hole has resulted over the years in the formation of stalactites and stalagmites down the
sides and at the bottom. of the cave.
There are several Martello Towers built around the world by the British during the colonial years. Its
design made it difficult for then cannons to penetrate. It was named after similarily round fortresses
that existed in Mortella, Corsica in the 15th century. Barbuda’s Martello Tower was built in the 1800s
atop an existing, Spanish Fort dating back to 1745. The tower is 32 feet high and offers outstanding
views over most of the island.
Photo Credit: Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority
Photo Credit: Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority