Last month, UNESCO named new landmarks and locations to its World Heritage list, including the second World Heritage site inscribed in Jamaica. Port Royal is officially a new UNESCO World heritage site, the island’s first in a decade.
Port Royal, once nicknamed “the wickedest city in the West” due to the influence of pirates and outlaws in the Golden Age of Piracy, is the only authentic sunken city in the Western Hemisphere. The port was once a key hub of trans-Atlantic trade, including the trade of enslaved Africans. In 1692, much of the city was submerged underwater following an earthquake. Another earthquake in 1907, as well as many hurricanes, fires and diseases, further affected the town.
© Jamaica Tourist Board
Above and below the water, Port Royal’s colonial urban plan, Fort Charles and military artifacts remain surprisingly intact, allowing travelers to get a glimpse into the town. In fact, Fort Charles is now open as a museum.
Port Royal was the notorious site for infamous pirates throughout history including Blackbeard Teach, Calico Jack and Sir Henry Morgan.
To date, thousands of artifacts have been recovered from Port Royal, with plans to build a local museum to showcase these found items once research on them is complete.
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