Port of Spain, also written asPort-of-Spainand known in Spanish as "Puerto España", is thecapital cityof the Republic ofTrinidad and Tobagoand the country's third-largest municipality, afterChaguanasandSan Fernando. The city serves primarily as a retail and administrative centre and it has been the capital of the island since 1757. It is also an important financial services centre for theCaribbeanand is home to two of the largest banks in the region.
Port of Spain is the second largest capital city in theEnglish-speaking Caribbeanand is one of the largest cities in the Caribbean. It is also the largest capital city in theLesser Antillesand southern Caribbean and is the most southern capital city in theCaribbean. Port of Spain was also the capital of the short-livedWest Indies Federation, which united the Caribbean.Caricomwas established inChaguaramas, west of Port of Spain.
The city is also home to the largest container port on the island and is one of several shipping hubs of the Caribbean, exporting both agricultural products and manufactured goods.Bauxitefrom Guyana is trans-shipped via facilities at atChaguaramas, about 8 kilometres (5mi) west of the city. The pre-lentenCarnivalis the city's main annual cultural festival and tourist attraction.