History & culture | Museums | Monuments

A history built on courage and fortitude has created a Caribbean community of peoples who welcome and respect visitors from all over the world. 

In the great historical sweep of exploration and migration of the past 500 years, the Caribbean played a central role in proving beyond doubt Christopher Columbus' theory that the world was round. That fact triggered an explosion of trade that changed the economic and political structures of the world. 

Older civilizations of the Americas, from the Carib Indians who gave our region its name to the Mayans of the American mainland, had already been attracted by the physical beauty, fertile soil and mineral wealth of our islands and have left astonishing reminders of their time 

The men, women and children who arrived here from Europe, Africa and Asia have also contributed to the creation of humanity’s richest melting pot. The renowned Caribbean culture of peace and aversion to war is the result of our mutual understanding of others' beliefs and lifestyles, and our own ability to adapt. The Caribbean today is one of the few places free from internal aggression. The results of this unique melt of history and culture can be seen in our faces, our buildings, our languages, our food, our museums and our monuments. 

At the highest levels of achievement, there are Nobel prize winners for literature – Derek Walcott of St. Lucia, Octavio Paz of Mexico, Saint-John Perse of Guadeloupe and Sir V. S. Naipaul of Trinidad. And for economics Sir Arthur Lewis of St. Lucia and Alfonso Garcia Robles of Mexico. 

The Caribbean has also produced some of the world's most renowned artists, musicians and novelists, such as Trinidad's V S Naipaul. 

Travelers to the Caribbean have become part of our history by finding inspiration and insight here. Famous incomers include Gauguin, Hemingway, Graham Greene and Nöel Coward – and you can visit the Caribbean retreats where they lived and worked today. 

Wherever you are in the Caribbean you are likely to find something or somewhere that will remind you of your homeland – and always something more to expand your horizons.