Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda is a constitutional monarchy headed by Queen Elizabeth II. On the island, she is represented by a governor-general, and executive power is in the hands of the prime minister, who heads the government. Parliament consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Antigua and Barbuda is a tropical island nation located in North America, in the heart of the Caribbean. It consists of two large islands – Antigua and Barbuda, as well as other smaller islands, including the uninhabited Redonda. The total area of ​​the country is 440 km². The capital is the largest city – St. John’s. The climate in Antigua and Barbuda is tropical, hot and humid with two seasons – dry and rainy.

The country is a member of the East Caribbean Monetary Union (ECCU) and the main currency is the East Caribbean Dollar (XCD). The main industry is tourism, which accounts for more than half of the country’s GDP. Investment banking and financial services are also an important part of the economy. Antigua and Barbuda’s agricultural production focuses on the local market.

The first inhabitants of Antigua and Barbuda were Indian tribes. Christopher Columbus first landed on the island of Antigua during his second voyage in 1493 and gave it this name in honour of the Spanish church of Santa Maria la Antigua in Seville. The first European settlements were founded by the Spaniards and the French, but later the islands came under British rule. In 1981 they gained independence within the British Commonwealth.

The islands of Antigua and Barbuda are home to many different races and nationalities, each of which contributes to the culture of the local population. The Antiguans are known for their craftsmanship – they produce ceramic vessels from local clay.

Every year there is Sailing week, a Craft fair, and in late July and early August the peak of summer is marked by the incredible Carnival of Antigua, known as the largest summer festival in the Caribbean – ten days of colours, crazy music and dancing from morning to morning.

The national cuisine of Antigua and Barbuda is formed gradually, including a wide variety of dishes and products, both local, traditional for Latin America, and brought from Africa and Europe. The culinary highlights of the island consist mainly of seafood, corn, sweet potatoes.

Fungie is a national dish from the cuisine of Antigua and Barbuda, very reminiscent of Italian polenta made from corn flour.

Ducana is a popular side dish, known for its sweet and salty taste. It is a mixture of grated sweet potatoes, pumpkin puree, coconut, corn flour, sugar and spices stewed in banana leaves.