Why did martinique earned the nick name the little pompeii of the carribean?

Once a busy port town, Saint Pierre was originally the sophisticated capital of Martinique, called the “Little Paris of the West Indies.” It is a city of many stories, but most poignant is the 1902 eruption of Mont Pelée, four miles away, that totally destroyed the town and its nearly 30,000 inhabitants. Only one man survived, locked in a jail dungeon, which remains among the town ruins that can be seen today.

The stories of the lone survivor and horrific destruction of the city are depicted in Saint Pierre’s Volcano Museum, established in 1933 by American volcanologist, Frank Perret. Housed in a former gun battery, the museum shows before and after photos and molten artefacts including the melted bell from the church tower. 

Strolling through the town, one can still see empty spaces and charred ruins of ancient buildings including a 18th-century theatre and a church facade. Signs are posted for visitors, and guided tours are available. The volcanic eruption also destroyed ships in the town’s old harbour, leaving many wrecks that make it one of the island’s best scuba diving spots.

After the destruction, Saint Pierre came to be called “Little Pompeii of the Caribbean,” but unlike Pompeii, it was gradually rebuilt as a living city with a cathedral, modern town hall and covered market. Today, one also finds a few small hotels, shops and cafes in a peaceful, village-like atmosphere with about 5000 inhabitants. A recent art installation of totem poles throughout the city celebrates Saint Pierre’s past grandeur and creative rebirth, and the French government has recognized it as a “city of art and history.”

Source: http://www.chattanoogan.com/2016/4/1/321216/Saint-Pierre-Martinique-From-Little.aspx

answer:

bonjour!

explanation:

this commercial passage is a real success. all the shops are great! there is a small biocoop to out with quality organic produce, a well-known pastry chef, a wine seller, an italian brasserie offering midday meals on a superb terrace where the dishes are plentiful, the food is quality, the ice creams are made by the owner early in the morning and a very pretty bookshop located in a pleasant and timeless setting. the highlights are relevant and well presented, we feel a real expertise on the part of the booksellers and not just a desire. the shelves are filled with beautiful things for young and old. it is very lively. you wouldn't think you were in strasbourg.

over here, it is an ideal place to spend delicious moments around a good coffee, a typical italian dish, a trendy pastry while reading a good book bought in the bookstore.