The streets of the country´s second-largest city, on its north coast, are lined with colonial houses – including a good deal of “gingerbread” architecture – testament to a history stretching back to 1711, when it was founded as the capital of the French colony of Saint Domingue until it was moved to Port-au-Prince 59 years laters. Cap also served as the capital of the Kingdom of Haiti, which lasted from independence in 1804 until 1820. These days it has a population of around 190,000, and apart from historic sites and monuments such as Place d´Armes square and the 354-year-old Our Lady of the Assumption cathedral, with its iconic tiled dome, nearby hills and beaches (such as Cormier and Labadie, the famous enclave used by cruise ships) are popular as a getaway for more well-heeled Haitians. The city also makes a good base for day trips to La Ferrière Citadel and Sans Souci palace. And though there´s poverty here as elsewhere in the country, the city and region have been able to keep themselves apart from the higher crime and instability in the country´s south.
Read more in my post 11 Excellent Experiences in Haiti.
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