Castries

Castries, the capital of St. Lucia, wraps around a natural harbour backed by steep green hills. Ships dock at either Pointe Seraphine or La Place Carenage, both a short walk from the town centre. The architecture reflects the island's back-and-forth history between France and Britain, and the Saturday morning market on Jeremie Street sells tropical fruit, spices and handmade crafts under tin-roofed stalls. The Pitons, two volcanic plugs rising sharply from the sea on the island's southwest coast, are the island's most recognisable landmark and about an hour's drive from Castries. Closer to town, Marigot Bay is a sheltered inlet often used as a film set. Local dishes include green fig and saltfish, the national dish, and fresh coconut water sold from roadside carts. Minibus taxis run set routes around the island and are cheap, though drivers tend to go fast on the winding mountain roads.