Spanish Town

Introduction

Spanish Town is the capital and largest town of St. Catherine parish, in the historic county of Middlesex. It served as the Spanish and then the British capital of Jamaica from 1534 until 1872, so the town's story is bound up with the island's colonial administration.

You'll find numerous memorials here, along with the national archives and one of the oldest Anglican churches outside England. These give the town a weight of history worth setting aside time to explore.

Getting around

Spanish Town sits on the main road between Kingston and the rest of the island, and getting around is done entirely by road: buses, minibuses, taxis and coaches. There is no working rail, metro or tram network. The town's compact historic core, the Square and the surrounding streets are best covered on foot; beyond the centre, treat walking as a way to reach specific nearby sights rather than to cross the whole town. The Old Iron Bridge over the Rio Cobre is one such sight, but violence in the area has affected its surroundings, so go with local advice and in daylight.

For longer hops, licensed public transport is the norm, with fares and licensing regulated by the Transport Authority, so vehicles should be identifiable and fares set rather than improvised. JUTC buses are bright yellow, run set routes, and accept cash in local currency or a JUTC Smartercard; the network mainly serves Kingston and its surroundings, with Half Way Tree Transport Centre as the main interchange. Coaster buses are smaller private minibuses boarding at designated depots and bus parks, and are less predictable. Knutsford Express runs scheduled, air-conditioned coaches between major towns, serves Spanish Town explicitly, and offers Wi-Fi, comfortable seating, luggage space and online booking. Route taxis run fixed routes and pick up multiple passengers, marked "TAXI" with route details and a checkered pattern; charter taxis are arranged through your accommodation, with the fare usually confirmed at booking. Car rental is possible at international airports and town centres.

Three days in Spanish Town

Day one: Start in Spanish Town itself, the old capital of Jamaica, and orient yourself around the historic core. The town's story runs from Spanish to British rule, and the Anglican church, one of the oldest in the island, anchors the centre. Wander the streets around the Square to get your bearings, then take in the Old Iron Bridge over the Rio Cobre, a landmark of the town's past. Spanish Town sits in the parish of St Catherine, in the county of Middlesex.

Day two: Use Spanish Town as your base for the parish. The town is well connected to the rest of St Catherine, and you can reach Kingston and Half Way Tree by public transport. The JUTC runs buses, and a JUTC Smartercard makes paying simpler; coaster buses and route taxis also serve the area. Knutsford Express is an option for longer journeys. Wi-Fi is available in parts of the town, so you can plan your routes as you go.

Day three: Slow down and explore the town's older quarters on foot, following the streets around the Square and the Anglican church, and return to the Rio Cobre and the Old Iron Bridge for a last look at the town's British and Spanish layers. The Transport Authority and JUTC services, along with route taxis, make it easy to move on when you are ready to leave St Catherine.