Seville Great House and Heritage Park

The site of the Seville Great House and Heritage Park is thought to be the place where Christopher Columbus first met Jamaica’s native Taino people in 1494. Throughout colonial history it became a Spanish settlement and later a British plantation. Today it is cultural heritage site owned and operated by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust where visitors can see remnants of all these communities. Among the buildings at the site that visitors can explore as part of a tour is the Seville Great House, a Georgian-style manor built in the 1670s, and the Governor's Castle, believed to be the home of the Spanish governor of Jamaica during the 1500s. Archaeological digs also uncovered a artisan workshop site with hundreds of carvings and broken columns.

Practical Info

Seville Great House and Heritage Park is located near St. Ann’s Bay, about 20 minutes west of Ocho Rios. The house is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and tours cost $15 for adults, $6 for kids. Visitors can also arrange horseback riding tours around the property.