St. Nicholas Abbey (aka "The Abbey")

Surrounded by sugar-cane fields, this Jacobean plantation great house has been around since about 1650. It was never actually an abbey -- around 1820, a socially ambitious owner simply christened it as such. More than 80 hectares (198 acres) are still cultivated each year. The house, characterized by its curved gables, is believed to be one of three authentically Jacobean houses in the Western Hemisphere. Recent restorations have transformed this spectacularly historic site into one of the Caribbean's genuine architectural treasures. On some days, you're likely to see smoke billowing from the chimneys of the reconstructed on-site sugar refinery. It's wise to phone in advance, as the place sometimes closes unexpectedly because of inclement weather or the absence of the hard-working owners.

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