The 17 beaches on New Providence Island are graced with soft, white sand, some of which are attached to resorts. Beach goers sunbathe, play volleyball or Frisbee. The clear turquoise waters are popular for diving, snorkeling and other water sports. Cable Beach, at four miles long, is the island's longest beach. Rock Point Beach is famous as the location for the James Bond movie, "Thunderball." The quieter beaches include Orange Hill Beach and Love Beach.
The Old Town houses a fascinating mixture of buildings, some originating from the 18th century. Many are brightly-colored where Caribbean and colonial architectural styles merge. The most striking building is the pink-colored Parliament Building.
Straw Market is the most famous souvenir market on the islands. Plaiting and decorating straw items such as dolls, shopping baskets and hats is a traditional craft and popular with tourists. The market provides a colorful and noisy experience with customers haggling with vendors.
The Nassau Public Library and Museum houses historic documents and artifacts reflecting the colonial history of the area. The building used to serve as a gaol under British rule, and library books are now displayed in the old prison cells. Prisoners' drawings of ships cover the dungeon's walls. There is also a museum of native fruit and flowers.
Several forts remain on the island that are interesting to view, and tell the turbulent local history. The largest one is Fort Charlotte and it contains cannons, dungeons, a drawbridge and dry moat, and underground passages. Fort Fincastle was built as a defense against looters, and the nearby Water Tower is a spectacular viewing point for the island. Fort Montagu, constructed in 1742, is the best preserved of any structure from British colonial times, and is the oldest fort in the Bahamas.
Many churches were built over the years on this site, and the fifth building became the Christ Church Cathedral when Nassau became a city in 1861. The architecture is Gothic and the construction uses local limestone. The crucifixion scene on the East windows is one of the most admired features.
