Old houses
Iron balconies.
User:Doron — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Caribeanvybz — CC0 · Ricardo Royal — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Caribeanvybz — CC BY 4.0
Jacmel is an old seaside town in southern Haiti, looking over a calm bay. Two-storey houses carry ornate iron and wooden balconies, with tall doors, shuttered windows and red roofs among the trees, and the sea at the end of the streets. The French founded it in 1698 as the capital of the southeastern part of their colony, and its name comes from its Taíno name, Yaquimel. It grew into a coffee-trading centre and was rebuilt after a great fire in 1896, which gave it its well-known balconied houses. In 1925 it was called the «City of Light» as the first town in the Caribbean to get electricity. The town is on UNESCO's tentative World Heritage list. You walk the old streets past historic houses, see artists' workshops and colourful craft shops, and stroll the waterfront. The town is known for its carnival and its painted masks, and it has a well-known film school. The old centre is near the harbour. The nearest natural sight, Bassin Bleu, is about 5 km to the west. The UK advises against all travel to Haiti because of the security situation, so check current advice before you go.
Iron balconies.
Colourful crafts.
A calm bay.
Central Jacmel, Sud-Est department
Its balconied houses, and its carnival and masks.
Bassin Bleu, turquoise pools west of town.