maison gouvernment

Government House

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This colonial building on Duke Street has been the official residence of the Governor General of the Bahamas since 1801. The bright pink mansion is an excellent example of Bahamian-British colonial architecture. In the middle of its high staircase, a statue of Columbus, discoverer of the islands, presides over the entrance. It is distinguished by the curious pink color of its facades and the marble statue of Queen Victoria, located in the center of the square in 1905.

What to see: If you arrive in Nassau on a Saturday, you can attend the changing of the guard at the Government Palace (every two weeks) from 10 a.m. to noon, accompanied by the music of the Royal Bahamas Police Band, who wear white tunics, black pants with red stripes and white-toed helmets with red stripes. The drummers wear leopard skins.

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Its graceful columns and wide circular movement are reminiscent of Virginia or Carolinian styles. But its pink color, distinctive white cornerstones and wooden shutters with louvers (to protect from the tropical sun) are typically Bahamian. A snack is open to the public from 3 to 4 p.m. on the last Friday of the month, from January to June, as part of the People-to-People program. Dress is casual but elegant – no shorts, jeans or tennis shoes. Musicians, poets and storytellers provide entertainment. Don’t miss the larger-than-life statue of Christopher Columbus on the grounds overlooking Nassau.

Duke St, Nassau, Bahamas

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