Willemstad Tour - Willemstad, Curaçao
Posted by: 
denben
N 12° 06.333 W 068° 56.234
19P E 506830 N 1338225
A 5-stop walking tour of Willemstad from Rif Fort to the Curaçao Maritime Museum.
Waymark Code: WM1ANJ2
Location: Curaçao
Date Posted: 09/12/2024
Views: 3
1. Rif Fort: N 12° 06.333 W 68° 56.234
The Rif Fort is a 19th-century defense monument which was built to protect the island from the invasion of pirates and enemies. It is made of 1.5-meter thick coral walls that once stored over 56 cannons. Today, Rif Fort is a tourist attraction that features great local restaurants, live entertainment, trendy bars with Latin and Caribbean music. (Hours: 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM) (
visit link)
2. Statue of Manuel Carlos Piar: N 12° 06.290 W 068° 56.127
The larger than life bronze statue of Carlos Manuel Piar stands on a large concrete base in the Punda district of Willemstad. Manuel Carlos Piar (1774 – 1817) was General-in-Chief of the army fighting Spain during the Venezuelan War of Independence. (
visit link)
3. Fort Church: N 12° 06.283 W 068° 56.065
Located inside Fort Amsterdam, Fort Church was built in 1769 and features former warehouses under the Church and a museum on the history and culture of Protestantism in Curaçao from 1643. Sunday morning services begin at 9:30. (
visit link)
4. Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue: N 12° 06.306 W 068° 55.971
Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue in Willemstad is the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere. The model of this synagogue was the Grote Synagogue in Amsterdam. It was consecrated in 1732. (
visit link)
5. Curaçao Maritime Museum: N 12° 06.430 W 068° 55.958
The Curaçao Maritime Museum is housed in a mansion built in 1729 on the Waaigat inlet just above the Willemstad's Floating Market. Exhibits include antique miniatures, 17th century ship models and maps, some even dating back to 1500. (Hours: 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM) (
visit link)