Belize City, over 300 years old, is not in fact the capital of the country but is the largest settlement, the most prominent trade center and an important port. Furthermore, Belize City attracts visitors with its Caribbean flair and a range of delightful colonial houses, wooden buildings and cathedrals.
St. John’s Cathedral, the oldest Anglican cathedral in Central America, and Government House are also worth seeing. This residence of the British governor, built at the beginning of the 19th century and combining Caribbean country and English city architecture, houses a museum today. At the top of the list of places to visit, however, is the Swing Bridge. This hand-operated swing bridge, dating from 1922, connects the North and South Sides and is the oldest swing bridge in the world. It is even still used today. The Fort George Lighthouse is also still in use. The lighthouse looms still over the entrance to the port.