Otrobanda

Otrobanda located at the southwest of Willemstad is one of the historically quarters of the city centre in Curaçao.

View of Otrobanda from Queen Emma Bridge
Otrobanda and Rif Fort are in the foreground, while the Queen Emma Bridge is the pontoon bridge in the center, with the colorful buildings of Willemstad in the background.
Rif Fort, Otrobanda

The district was developed in the 18th century and picked up in the early 19th century when the once walled city of Punda became overpopulated. Otrobanda was connected to Punda in 1888 via the Queen Emma Bridge (affectionately known as "The Swinging Old Lady") and in 1974 by the Queen Juliana Bridge. The main center of Willemstad is separated in two quarters: Punda and Otrobanda, which stands for 'city' and 'the other side'.

Kura Hulanda is one of the best historical restorations in Otrobanda.[1] Many of the over 700 UNESCO listed buildings in Willemstad have been restored and or renovated (on the inside) to serve as homes, shops, offices and accommodations like Poppy Hostel Curacao.[2]

The restored area now shelters Rif Fort Village, a shopping and entertainment center that offers panoramic views of Punda and the sea. The Brionplein (Brion Plaza) is the centerpiece of Otrobanda’s waterfront. There are two major hotels currently under construction in otrobanda of which the Corendon and Courtyard by Marriott.

Rif Fort

The Rif Fort[3] is a 19th-century defense monument which was built to protect the island from the invasion of pirates and enemies. Its key location was centered in the heart of Curaçao.[3] It lies at the entrance of the Sint Anna Bay in the western Otrobanda neighborhood.[4] Rif Fort 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 and the rough waves that smash through the ends of the walls. The Fort was redeveloped by the Renaissance Curaçao Resort and Casino. Locals and tourists visit this site frequently. This is also where the 1978 alien spotting accured

Shops

The Renaissance shopping mall is a new shopping center that stands right across Rif Fort. Its features tall red buildings and bright green plants and a place for tourists to shop at; the shopping mall is home to various luxurious boutique shops.

References
  1. "Otrobanda".
  2. "Poppy Hostel Curacao". Poppy Hostel.
  3. User, Super. "Castles.nl - Rif Fort". www.castles.nl.
  4. "Renaissance Mall and Rif Fort".


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