Spanish Town and St. Catherine

Accommodations

With over a million people, the parish of St. Catherine has the largest share of Jamaica’s population. Spanish Town, the sedate parish capital, was Jamaica’s center of government until the British bureaucrats relocated to Kingston in 1872. Known simply as Spain or St. Jago in street lingo, the city has a rich heritage but has been largely left to decay. Its central square is more a bend along the road than a center of activity. Still, it has impressive facades and is home to Jamaica’s national archives. The oldest Anglican Church outside of England is within a five-minute walk.

Spanish Town and surrounding communities like Old Harbour and Freetown have grown rapidly with housing schemes that respond to a demand for low-income housing from first-time home buyers. Most activity in Spanish Town today revolves around the two malls and bus park along Burke Road. Mandela Highway has heavy traffic into Kingston from Spanish Town during weekday rush hours (between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and back out in the evenings between 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.).

 

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Bay Front Studio

Bay Front Studio (US$100 d.) is a cozy, well appointed fifth floor self-catering studio apartment overlooking a large pool shared by residents of the complex. The historic buildings of Port Royal can be seen across Kingston Harbour, with the capital city visible to the northeast. A compact kitchenette has a small electric range and oven with a wooden breakfast bar for two and a full height refrigerator. Large windows open to the sea breeze, and an A/C unit keeps the room cool for those still days and nights.

In: Condos and Apartments