Built in the 18th century, nestled in a harbour surrounded by hills, Castries, the island's capital city, is a mixture of modern buildings and wooden houses. There is no longer anything left of the colonial houses as the city has been devastated by earthquakes, hurricanes and fires. Other than a daily market held in a hall of metallic architecture and a 19th century cathedral with beautiful interior decoration, Castries offers no great attractions. It is essentially a stopover point and a shopping centre for the crowds of tourists who regularly pour out of huge cruise liners!