Belize
City- Perfect Place for History Lovers!
When in Belize City....Go Back in Time!
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 of interest in Belize City that need more than 2-3 hours to
explore fully, such as:
Fort 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 interest in 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.
Edward Wilson is a well-known travel journalist based in Belize Island. He has
written extensively on various places in Belize which are a tourist’s delight and
has also given advice on vacation options in Belize including Belize
jungle vacations, Belize birding, Belize Cuisine and so on.
Learn more about Belize by visiting our other Belize Pages:
