RSSThe capital of St.Lucia is home to more than a third of the island's total population. Located on the northwest coast, the town is has a typical busy and congested urban culture that is often combined with a relaxed and peaceful aura.
The town reflects a blend of centuries-old West Indian lifestyle and the fast-paced modernization. This town is primarily the place to conduct business or to indulge in a shopping spree at the many duty-free shops in the plazas and malls here. The modern aspect of Castries is apparent around the waterfront and government complex areas, where gleaming and towering structures of glass, concrete and steel are located.
The classic West Indian look of brightly painted wood and intricate gingerbread fretwork has been gradually declining over the years. Castries was devastated four times by fire, the last one occurring in 1948. Many of the original colonial structures were lost and have been replaced by ordinary fireproof structures.
The town is set against a backdrop of the deep harbour of Port Castries that remains busy with several cruise and massive cargo ships. Downtown Castries has over a dozen blocks of crowded streets, shops, bus stands. The heart of the area is the bustling and noisy Castries Central Market that offers a rich mix of colour and aroma. Derek Walcott Square, formerly Columbus Square, is a green site in the downtown area. Scattered throughout the city are several busy open-air vegetable markets, craft markets and shopping centres.
