Christiansted was once the capital of the entire Danish Colony of the Virgin Islands and nowadays it is still the capital and most important city of Saint Croix Island. It is said to be the prettiest town in the entire Caribbean.
In the center of town, clustered around the harbor, are several old Danish warehouses, as well as a customs house, government buildings and a church, all dating from the Danish colonial period. Some of the oldest buildings in town were constructed from distinctive Danish bricks that were carried to the Caribbean on merchant ships from Europe. The ships sailed empty from Europe to the Caribbean and needed stones for ballast to keep them upright. For the return trip, ballast was not needed, as the ships were loaded with local produce, such as sugar and the stones were left behind.
For great views over Christiansted you should visit Fort Christiansted in the eastern part of town. The fort was built in 1749 and protected the town against pirates and unruly slaves until 1878, after which it was converted into a police station. You can still see the cannons on its ramparts. There is also an interesting aquarium in town.
There are several hotels and restaurants in Christiansted. The town is on the northern coast of Saint Croix Island, some 70 km south of Charlotte Amalie.
Not far from Christiansted is the town of Frederiksted, which is also worth a visit. Day trips to Buck Island are available in Cristiansted.
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