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Haiti is a place where historically the old and new world came together. This resulted in a land of rich art, culture and cuisine. 

 

Discover Haitian art and culture


While Haiti is very open to the outside world and has seen people coming in from all regions of the globe, Haitian art is mainly an expression of African heritage with an enduring European influence. Museums and galleries house the collections of the country's most prominent artists. Many lesser known craftsmen and artists sell their pieces on the streets or in small shops. There are even towns that are known for their especially skilled artists such as Croix-des-Bouquets where locals use recycled oil drums to produce exquisite art pieces. Jacmel is known for its spectacular papier-mâché masks used during the carnival.    
 

Explore Haitian history through fortifications and buildings


After winning its independence through war in the early 19th century, Haiti sought to protect its newly acquired freedom by building forts in key locations. The goal was to prevent future invasions by the French. None of these forts were ever used for their intended purpose but their ruins remain open to visitors, and some of them are very well preserved. The largest fortress in the Americas, namely, the Citadelle Laferrière is located in the north of the country on a mountain top. The ruins of the Palace Sans Soucis, which was built for the Haitian king Henri, and is said to have had 365 doors, sits below the citadel. Gingerbread houses can be seen in the capital city, Port-au-Prince. They are a remnant of another time when Port-au-Prince was a prosperous city. 

Get a taste of Haiti through its cuisine


Traditional cuisine is a big part of life in Haiti. Haitian food is usually spicy whether it is a sweet or savory dish. It is easy to enjoy the many flavors of Haiti's cuisine through the multiple restaurants and street food vendors who cook typical Haitian dishes and snacks. If you only want a quick bite you can get twice-fried plantains with pikliz. The pikliz is a hot and spicy shredded cabbage pickle with carrots, hot peppers and other condiments. Pork griot (pronounced gree-oh) or other fried meats can also be bought to accompany your fried plantains. A typical Haitian dinner is an involved process that takes hours to prepare. The result is rice with beans, cooked with coconut water or the crowd pleasing white rice with a bean puree either served with meat in a creole sauce or a mashed vegetable side dish. If you love seafood, the best place to enjoy it is at the beach where freshly caught seafood is grilled to your liking.

 

"Taste" more of the Haitian cuisinehere!

Fall in love with Haitian beaches


The warm waters of Haiti's beaches welcome you all year long. From the north to the south you will find many different beaches each with their own personality. One beach will be beaten by incessant and strong waves while another one nearby will be calm with only the occasional ripple. Some beaches are very popular with a younger crowd and are very lively while others are mostly quiet with pure white sand and very few people.

Whether you are a person who loves art and appreciates good craftsmanship, or someone who is very interested in the history of the Americas, or even if you simply enjoy spending time at the beach and eating good food, Haiti has something special for you to enjoy . 

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