As you enjoy all that your Barbados vacation villas have to offer, be sure to visit the island's culture and historical sites as well. Barbados is one of the islands of Lesser Antilles. People come to the area to enjoy activities such as golfing, swimming, sun bathing and boating. Since it offers so many fun activities, Barbados is a popular vacation spot.
Barbados' Musical Scene
If any visitor is interested in experiencing Barbados culture, he or she should start with the island's music scene. Throughout the year, the island hosts musical events and festivals. At these events, visitors can listen to calypso, reggae, blues, gospel and rock music. One such event is the Colin Norville and Friends Concert. It is an annual three-day event that includes many bands and features a mixture of musical styles and genres.
The island also has many venues that offer live music acts. On the island's south coast is the Waterfront Café. While enjoying a traditional Barbados dinner buffet, guests are treated to the steel pan music of Anderson Ward; he is one of the island's most accomplished steel pan players. Of course this is only one example of the many venues available on the island. No matter where your Barbados villa rental happens to be, there is sure to be a musical event or venue nearby.
The Open House Programme
From January to April, every year, the Barbados National Trust hosts their "Open House Programme." During the open house season, the BNT opens a different stately home to the public. Guests have a chance to tour the home and learn about its history and architecture. One house that is part of the program is the Bellevue in St. Michael. This plantation dates back to 1635 and contains many outbuildings and horse stables.
After finishing the tour, guests can enjoy rum punch or fresh fruit juice and homemade snacks and can meet local artists and craftspeople. Books and other goods are available for purchase. Tours are given every Wednesday from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Ticket purchases are required.
Barbados Museums
Another way to take in the Barbados culture is to visit one of the many museums.
The Barbados Museum is located in the former British Military Prison, the Garrison. It was built in 1853 and was turned into a museum in 1930. The purpose of the museum is to celebrate the nature and history of the island. One exhibit describes the "coral structure" of the island, while another showcases artifacts from the island's earliest inhabitants, the Amerindians. The museum also houses eighteenth century furniture and has a collection of historical maps of Barbados. It is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; it is open on Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
In St. Michael is the Sugar Museum. The Barbados National Trust runs this museum, which acts as a record of how sugar was produced during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. All of the exhibits detail how sugar canes were cultivated and how those canes were turned into sugar. Historic machinery is also on display; since the museum is located on the Portvale Sugar Factory grounds, guests can compare old processes to modern processes. The museum is open throughout the year.
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