Saint John’s (pop. 22,000) is the capital, largest city, and commercial center of the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda. St. John’s stands at the head of a deep harbor on the northwest coast of the island of Antigua.
One of the most prominent features and a major landmark of the city is the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. A church was first built on the site of the cathedral in the 1680’s. But the present structure, a baroque-style white stone building, dates from the 1840’s. The city’s colonial courthouse, built in 1750 during British rule, now houses the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda. The museum has a variety of objects dating from the island’s precolonial past to the present.
Tourism is an important industry in St. John’s, and many cruise ships visit the city. Nearby V. C. Bird International Airport handles international flights.
