A lovely Caribbean island, St. Martin is the smallest landmass shared by two independent countries – the northern half of the island is governed by France, while the Netherlands control the southern region.
Legend holds that Columbus landed on its beautiful shores on the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, earning the island its name. While the area was quarreled over for many years, the French and Dutch finally agreed to joint possession in 1648. Although they spell its name differently and embody distinct cultures, St. Martin’s multinational identity and wide-ranging diversity are endearing to both locals and tourists, who love its sophisticated feel, world-class restaurants, nude beaches and Old World charm.
Highly commercialized St. Maarten, with its capital in Philipsburg, is frequented by cruise ships. The St. Martin capital of Marigot, is lively year round, but in spring the revelry of Carnival takes over the island twice, first on the French side and then on the Dutch.
Needless to say, St. Martin is more than worthy of its reputation as the Caribbean’s “Friendly Island.”
