Here’s something that blew my mind – Port Royal today has virtually no crime. The police report almost zero incidents annually. Locals will tell you it’s safe because all the criminals live in Kingston. It’s one of the safest, quietest communities in Jamaica. But this quiet little fishing village used to be called the wickedest city in the entire world.
Let that sink in for a minute. The WICKEDEST city. In the ENTIRE world. And now? It’s basically paradise. Let me take you on a journey through time and show you what’s left of this legendary place.
Back in the 1600s, Port Royal wasn’t just rich – it was dripping in gold. Buccaneer legends like Henry Morgan ruled the seas, and these streets have some serious stories to tell. Pirates would roll up here with their stolen treasure, throw wild parties, and basically live like there was no tomorrow.
And then later, two massive earthquakes swallowed the majority of the city. But here’s why I’m so excited about this place – what’s left standing is like walking through a living history book. Every building, every street, every stone has a story that’ll make you stop and just think about how different life was back then.
First stop on my tour was the Old Royal Naval Hospital on New Street. Now, you can’t go inside, but even from the gates, this building is impressive. Built around 1818, this place survived the 1907 earthquake. British naval officers were treated here, and it’s now managed by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust. Just imagine all the stories these walls could tell – the sailors who recovered here, the medical practices of the time, the history that unfolded within those walls.
Now we’re heading to Gaol Alley, and this is where things get a little dark. This was the old women’s jail, and most women were locked up for prostitution. Remember, Port Royal was wild back then, and women had very few options. Standing here now, you can’t help but think about how different life was for women in those days.
It’s sobering, it’s powerful, and it’s an important reminder of the complex history this place holds. Port Royal wasn’t just about pirates and gold – it was about real people living real lives in extraordinary circumstances.
Then I went to St. Peter’s Anglican Church on Norman Manley Highway. This beauty was built around 1726, and I actually got to go inside. The original church was destroyed in that catastrophic 1692 earthquake, then the second one burned down in 1703. But they rebuilt, because that’s what people do – they rebuild.
Inside, you can still see the original black and white tiles in the aisles. The walls are now covered with cement made to look like stone blocks, but underneath, it’s all original brick. This church has been through hurricanes, earthquakes, and centuries of Caribbean weather, and it’s still standing strong. Still holding Sunday service since 1726. Think about that – almost 300 years of continuous worship in the same spot.
Walking down Norman Manley Highway, things get even more interesting. On my right, parts of the sunken city are still underground. Yes, you read that right – there’s a whole city buried beneath the surface, swallowed by those devastating earthquakes. On my left, there’s Morgan’s Line – named after the famous buccaneer Henry Morgan himself.
This guy was so successful at being a pirate that they made him Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. From pirate to politician – only in Port Royal, right? A little further down, there’s the Prince of Wales Line, which was basically a defense system loaded with guns and cannons to protect the harbor. These weren’t just for show either. Port Royal was constantly under threat from Spanish forces, French forces, and rival pirates, so they needed serious firepower.
Walking further down Norman Manley Highway is Fort Charles. Built in the late 1650s, this was the first fort in Port Royal. Originally called Fort Cromwell, they renamed it Fort Charles, and by 1765, this place was packing 104 guns with a garrison of 500 men. That’s basically a small army protecting what was then the most valuable port in the Caribbean.
There’s an entrance fee to get in, and trust me, it’s worth every dollar. A tour guide walks you through everything – soldiers’ quarters, officers’ quarters, even the old toilets. Yes, the toilets! It’s fascinating to see how people lived in those times. There’s a magazine room where they stored ammunition, and a gift shop where you can pick up some historical souvenirs.
But the coolest part? Giddy House. This building is literally crooked from the 1907 earthquake, and when you stand inside, you actually get disoriented. Your eyes are telling you one thing, but your body is feeling something completely different. It’s like being dizzy without actually being dizzy – hence the name “Giddy House.”
They also do a demonstration with one of the big cannons, which is absolutely incredible. The boom echoes across the harbor, and for a moment, you can almost imagine what it was like when this fort was actively defending the port.
The views from the second floor of Fort Charles? Absolutely stunning. You can see straight across Kingston Harbor and understand exactly why this location was so strategic. From up here, you could spot approaching ships from miles away, giving you plenty of time to prepare your defenses or welcome friendly vessels.
Standing there, looking out over that harbor, you get it. You understand why pirates chose this spot, why the British fought to keep it, why it became the wickedest city in the world. Location, location, location.
After all that walking and history absorbing, I was tired and starving, so I grabbed lunch at Gloria’s. Good food, good vibes, perfect way to end the day. Nothing like some authentic Jamaican cuisine to bring you back to the present after spending hours in the past.
Fort Charles is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, and there are different rates for visitors, locals, and children. Check their Instagram for current prices and updates on special events or tours.
You can do a self-guided tour like I did, or you can book with One Stop Cultural Tours or contact the Jamaica National Heritage Trust for a guided experience. Honestly, I’d recommend the guided tour if you really want to dive deep into the history – the guides are incredibly knowledgeable and bring the stories to life in ways that plaques and signs just can’t.
So here’s my take – Port Royal is a historical gem. From pirate paradise to British defense to underwater ruins to peaceful fishing village, this place has seen it all. And the wildest part? I didn’t get to see everything Port Royal has to offer. There’s still more to explore, more stories to uncover, more history to absorb.
This isn’t just a tourist attraction. It’s a window into a completely different world, a time when pirates were real, when earthquakes could swallow entire cities, when Jamaica was at the center of Caribbean power struggles. It’s a reminder that history isn’t just something in textbooks – it’s alive in places like this, waiting for you to discover it.
If you’re into history, if you love a good pirate story, if you want to see a side of Jamaica that most tourists completely miss, Port Royal needs to be on your list. It’s close to Kingston, easy to get to, and absolutely packed with incredible stories and experiences.
From the wickedest city to one of the safest communities in Jamaica, Port Royal’s transformation is nothing short of remarkable. And walking through it, touching those old walls, standing in that crooked house, looking out from those fort walls – it all makes history feel real in a way that pictures and books never can.
Have you been to Port Royal? What other historical sites in Jamaica should I explore next? Drop a comment below and let me know! I’m always looking for my next adventure through Jamaica’s incredible past.
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Contact Information:
For Charles – https://www.instagram.com/fortcharlesja
One Stop Cultural Tours – for guided Port Royal experiences
Jamaica National Heritage Trust – for official historical tours and information
Hashtags: #PortRoyal #JamaicaHistory #FortCharles #PirateHistory #WickedestCity #HenryMorgan #GiddyHouse #UncoverJamaica #KingstonJamaica #JamaicanHeritage #HistoricalJamaica #CaribbeanHistory
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