Curacao Island - Culture

Curacao lies 60 km (38 miles) off the coast of Venezuela at 12° north latitude, 69° west longitude. The total area of Curacao amounts to 448 km² (173 sq. miles). Its maximum length is 65 km (40 miles) and the width varies between 5 and 14 km (3 and 9 miles). The highest elevation is Mount Christoffel: 372 meters (1239 feet). Curacao lies well below the hurricane belt! Its the largest of the islands in the Netherlands Antilles.

Curacao has 147.000 inhabitants; 16% of these were not born on the island. Most are of African or mixed African and European descent. In all, more than 60 nationalities are represented. The greater part of the population is of black origin. Birthrate : 19,7 per 1000; deathrate 5,7 per 1000.

Curacao has a well earned reputation for religious as well as ethnic harmony. The Roman Catholic religion is the most prominent in the local community, but other faiths including Anglican, Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Mormons, and more, are represented on the island as well. All have their own houses of worship and practice their religions freely.

Things to see..

THE FLOATING MARKET
Each morning dozens of Venezuelan schooners and sailboats arrive laden with fresh tropical fruits, vegetables, spices and fish. Colourful canopies and a bustling atmosphere make this a fun place to visit.

MIKVE ISRAEL-EMANUEL SYNAGOGUE
This synagogue was founded in 1651 by twelve Jewish families from Amsterdam. It's the oldest temple still in use in the Western Hemisphere. A thick carpet of sand on the floor symbolizes the desert where the Israelites caped on their long journey to freedom. It may also recall God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would be "as countless as the sands of the sea". More practically, it muffles the sound of footsteps during services.

HATO CAVES
Check the amazing carvings from the beginning of time in the Hato Caves. Limestone caverns, underwater ponds, a place too incredible to describe awaits you here. This is the spot where runaway slaves used to hide and it was also known as a popular haunt to perform ancient religious ceremonies.

CHRISTOFFEL PARK
Christoffel Park is a 4,500 acres natural preserve hosting an amazing array of flora and fauna, including species that can't be found anywhere else in the world. This preserve is located at the northwestern end of Curacao around the island's highest point, Mount Christoffel.

THE SEAQUARIUM
The Curacao Seaquarium presents a unique aquarium with more than 400 species of fish, sharks, crabs, lobsters, turtles, sponges and corals in their natural surroundings. All those species can be found on the reefs surrounding Curacao.

THE FORTS
Fort Amsterdam, Fort Beekenburg, Fort Nassau, Riffort, Fort Waakzaamheid & Waterfort have guarded Curacao's harbour for centuries and are all worth a visit. Fort Amsterdam is currently the central seat of government for the Netherlands Antilles.

THE SWINGING LADY
The Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge is the world's largest floating pedestrian bridge. Built in 1888 by an American consul, a toll was charged to help recoup the costs. However, the consul decided to charge only those who could afford shoes. The idea was that people who could afford shoes were rich and people who couldn't afford shoes were poor. His good intentions backfired when he realized that the poor folks were too proud to admit their poverty and often borrowed shoes to cross, and the rich folks, too stingy to pay the toll, were often crossing barefoot. There is no charge today regardless of your footwear. The bridge is 700 ft. long and swings open up to 30 times a day to receive ships into St. Anna Bay. Locals refer to it simply as "the Swinging Lady".

Beaches in Curacao are small sandy bays with crystal clear water. On weekends many people go to the beach, but during the week you might find yourself alone on many beaches. Most beaches are located on the southern coast of the island and the water is calm. The northern coast is rocky and the sea is very rough. A few beaches are within minutes from the city, but most of them are in Banda 'Bou, the northwestern part of the island. Some beaches have restaurants and facilities (usually the ones that charge entrance), others are more simple. Some of the favourite beaches are Playa Knip, Cas Abou, Porto Marie, Playa Kalki, Barbara Beach, and Mambo Beach. Just about every beach is good for snorkelling and scuba diving.