Seville Great House and Heritage Park

Seville Great House and Heritage Park

Seville Great House and Heritage Park
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4.0 of 5 bubbles27 reviews
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CyndyandByron
Bridgeton, NJ865 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2016 • Couples
We learned today that some of what one of us was taught in Jamaican grammar school may not have been so accurate. Our guide, Eldon, seemed pleased that we had a little knowledge before we arrived. He really enjoyed correcting our misconceptions and we appreciated his approach. The area of this great house was in the vicinity of the first capitol, Seville, of Jamaica. The stories of the Taino being displaced and enslaved before being killed by European disease were told by the museum quality exhibits, The first conquerors were the Spaniards who brought the first African slaves; Spaniards were followed by the British who brought more slaves and established brutal control over everything in sight. Meanwhile sugar production continued on this estate. The docent also discussed abolition in Jamaica, which while much earlier than the US, took 30 years to fully implement. There were many artifacts on display. Perhaps the best of those were the very much intact limestone carvings found in the ruins of the artist's shops. There was not much information provided about the inhabitants of the great house, but the accurate historical picture made up for what most likely would have been conjecture and lore. If you like history, please take a couple of hours and travel up this lane off the main highway near Ocho Rios and go back into history. We could not help but reflect on US history related to treatment of Native Americans and African Americans in the United States. The visit left us with plenty to talk and think about.
Written 17 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ikuyaso
Canada168 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2013 • Couples
We had an excellent taxi driver who took us to see the grounds of the great house. However they were closed. We walked the grounds and enjoyed it so much we returned the next day when they were open.

INSIDE
Informative museum, lots of reading but it was well worth it. Its a National Heritage site that detailes all of Jamaican History and the importance of the Seville House throughout history. Who knew it was such a landmark!

I really enjoyed the tour inside and the quality of the displays. All authentic (?) and honestly if you enjoy this sort of thing do make a trip out here. We stumbled on it and I am quite happy we did.

OUTSIDE
The fun begins outside. We had tamarind fruit and learned how the tree was brought to Jamaica to use as whips... made the fruit bittersweet..lol We walked and learned about the houses out back and their relevance and evolution. The rereations are amazing. We took pictures because they were so unique.

There are graves on-site and if you are up for it, walk slowly back down the hill because the ruins go all the way down and make for a lovely day. Pack a mango and enjoy it.

Lucky for us, we ran into a lady selling mangoes and we picked a guava to eat on the grounds!

A great afternoon!
Written 28 April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stephen D
Toronto, Canada6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2017 • Couples
We included this destination in an all-day private excursion to Ocho Rios from Melia Braco Village in late January, and much to our surprise, it was one of the highlights of the day. Lucked out with no cruise ship tours there at the time, and had a two hour tour of house and grounds with Michelle our very informative guide. The cultural history of Jamaica is compressed, clearly explained and brought to life in a very evocative setting that history books cannot possibly replicate. Well worth a visit even for those who may only casually interested in Jamaican history.
Written 22 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MIBum
Seattle, WA37 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2015 • Friends
The Seville Great House is another example of the many plantation homes which is now owned by the government, which would be unremarkable except for the rich insights it affords into Jamaican History. In the area of the Great House, a large Taino village existed until shortly after the arrival of the Spanish. The Taino were the native people, who came to Jamaica from South America maybe 1000 years before Columbus discovered Jamaica in 1494. Thereafter, the Spanish established one of their most important outposts on the site, until the British ousted the Spanish, and it became a British plantation. This is not a well visited attraction, and is hardly noted at the large gates off the main northern highway. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Written 20 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Vicky S
Edmonton, Canada146 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2014 • Couples
Although the grounds are exquisite, exceedingly well maintained, and full of some of the ruins of Jamaica's original history, don't go in the Great House, unless you appreciate disneyesque murals depicting the history of the area. The tour guide was so lack-lustre (we have noticed this often, they speak their 'lines' as if reading them from the back of cue cards. Don't get me wrong, I love an intense, motivated, excited tour by someone who obviously loves their subject, but they are sadly lacking in JA) we dismissed her (I'm quite capable of reading the information on the large wall murals, thanks).

The upper floor of the Great House is inaccessible, the outbuildings have been turned into offices (inaccessible) and the main floor has been kitted out with large wall murals (see my photos) depicting the history. Plus a few 16th to 18th century scraps of shards. Very disappointing.

Recommendation - wander (or drive) the grounds (for free) and talk to the maintenance men (free and knowledgeable, and loving their work - fabulous yet simple topiary) and stay away from the house ($15 each for not much). Make a donation to the society if you are so inclined.
Written 27 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

322Josephine
Halifax, Canada3 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2013 • Solo
If you want to return from Jamaica with more than excellent rum & a tan, I suggest you take time to visit Seville House, on the north coast of Jamaica, off a superb paved highway & an easy drive from Montego Bay. Spain ruled Jamaica from the time Christopher Columbus landed there in 1494. Spain brought sugar cane (good), slavery & sexually transmitted diseases (bad & bad); the latter import largely wiping out the native Taino people . Then Britan defeated Spain & ruled Jamaica for the next 450 years, before this lovely country gained its full independence in 1962. You'll learn much more when you visit this charming historic site, located on a former sugar cane plantation which used slaves. You will leave with a better understanding of Bob Marley's lyrics and the fascinating history of this nation.
Written 9 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sharon S
Palm Bay, FL70 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2016 • Couples
I was recommended this place by the owner of one of the tour companies I contacted because I said I wanted something historical and off the beaten path. This was certainly that. We did end up renting a car and driver (cheaper than you would think in Jamaica) and this was our best stop. It is $15 per person, but we got a lovely private tour by Anthony. He was obviously very interested in his subject and knew a lot about the house. He gave us a tour that lasted about an hour and included some of the outside structures. We were really trying to learn more about the history of Jamaica, and this seems one of the best ways to do it if your cruise ship stops at Ocho Rios. I highly recommend taking a visit if you like history.
Written 5 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Erica R
Plaistow, NH6 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2015 • Couples
I almost hate to call it boring, as they did a very nice job and our tour guide was very knowledgeable...but we had just come from the Blue Hole where we jumped off of cliffs and then came here for an educational lesson. That being said, I learned a lot about Jamaican history which I previously knew nothing about. I didn't realize all of the different culture clashing that went on. It was a pretty house and was nice to walk around. I think I would recommend this place to someone who was staying in Jamaica for a week and looking for different things to do. I wouldn't recommend this to people in our position who were on a cruise and only in Jamaica for a few hours.
Written 22 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kelsey C
Palmerston, Canada4 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2014 • Couples
Being married to a Jamaican and a history lover, Seville Great House was very interesting to me! However, if you do not appreciate history or it just isn't your thing, this isn't the place for you. Costs to enter the actual house are a bit steep but definitely add to the overall experience. If you have an extra hour and enjoy history, worth a look!
Written 3 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kim C
105 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2014 • Couples
A small heritage house but the grounds have some interesting artifacts like a disused water wheel. This place is worth stopping by on route.
Written 19 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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