Mount St Benedict Monastery

The church tower sitting on the Northern Range Hills above Tunapuna is one of the most striking landmarks east of Port of Spain.

This Benedictine Monastic community is the largest and oldest in the Caribbean. It was established in 1912 by monks fleeing Brazil's attempt to take over their land. Founded on the principles of self sufficiency and hospitality to strangers, the monastery complex encompasses, not only religious buildings, but also a farm, an apiary, a home for the aged, a drug rehabilitation center, a vocational school and a guest house.

It also owns about 600 acres, much of it rain forest, which still supplies water and materials for the site.

The community grew in size during WWII when wealthy