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| Trinidad |
Located in the central province of Sancti Spiritus, the formerly called Villa de la Santísima Trinidad (Holy Trinity) was founded in 1514 and was one of the first seven villages the Spanish in Cuba. Trinidad, also known as Cuba's Museum City, is one of the country's colonial cities, and has one of the most complete and well-preserved architectural environments in the Americas.,
Declared a World Heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1988, Trinidad was founded on the banks of the Guaurabo River, where the Spaniards found an aboriginal population that they used as slave labor force.
A true treasure containing the most varied wealth, the village expanded in the 16th century, due to the development of the sugar industry. According to history, the site chosen by Conquistador Diego Velázquez to found the village was where the Martí Park is currently located.
Big, comfortable colonial-style houses and palaces turned Trinidad into an undisputable urban and architectural crown jewel. The decoration of Trinidad's houses is based on neoclassic ornamentation, which is shown in murals, molds, wooden frameworks and beautiful iron-wrought railings. It contains beautiful churches (such as the Great Parish Church, a neoclassical edifice built in 1892) and public squares, the most important of which is Main Square-surrounded by buildings of great beauty and historic and architectural interest and considered the second most important square in the country, after Havana's Cathedral Square.
Trinidad has several museums: the Romantic Museum and the Museum of Architecture, Archeology, History and the Struggle against Counterrevolutionaries. One Mansion, built in 1723 sells souvenirs and special drinks typical of the city: canchancharas (for which the house is named), a cocktail made of honey, Lime juice and high wine. The city also has a Troubadours House (Casa de la Trova) and a House of Music (Casa de la Musica). In the evening, there's a disco, several bars and folkdance performances.
In addition to its lush natural surroundings and colonial appearance, Trinidad is close to the ocean with two excellent beaches: Ancon and Maria Aguilar, both of which are very close by and are among the best beaches on the southern coast of Cuba. Ancon Beach is just a little over 12 km from the city. It is 4 km long, with white sand and green-blue water. Its seabed is ideal for scuba diving and spear fishing.
The Ancon Peninsula is bordered by a narrow shelf of sandy bottom, with colorful patches of coral, ridges up to 5 meters high, tunnels and other features. It has 21 scuba-diving sites, where you can see concentrations of Black Coral (Antipathes spp.), a wide variety of sponges, gorgonians, Common Sea Fans (Gorgonia spp.) and many kinds of colorful fish. It is located twelve kilometers from the village with white sands bathed by the warm Caribbean Sea ideal for nautical sports, including scuba diving with more than 30 sites. Mountains, Waterfalls and coffee plantations are also nearby.
Very close to Trinidad, raises the Sierra del Escambray. An unbelievable beauty of Cuba's nature where you can hike, relax, horseback riding, swim in natural ponds and climb waterfalls. Going up the Sierra through the road that goes from Trinidad is a unique experience. In the distance, it can be clearly seen the splendid scenery of Acon Peninsula with its magnificent beaches that face the Caribbean and the town of Trinidad. Sierra del Escambray has steep peaks and deep valleys, caves, beautiful landscapes, pure and transparent rivers and streams that make up picturesque waterfalls and crystalline ponds. The visit to this mountains also allow to know about the rural life associated to the growing of coffee and other agricultural activities. Also located in these mountains, the Great Natural Park Topes de Collantes is a place of extraordinary beauty and of great scientific value for Cuba's ecology. This is a protected area of 200 square kilometers with a great number of endemic species of flora and fauna. It has eight recreational and adventure parks and the visitor can be guided by specialized eco guides thru attractive, natural, cultural and historical places.
Cuba Travel Expert Recommendations' in Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus, Cuba
Valle de Los Ingenios
It is nearby Trinidad and it is a living museum of the sugar industry, featuring 75 ruined sugar mills, summer mansions, barracks, and other facilities related to the field. The famous Manaca-Iznaga Tower, built in 1816, is 45 m high, and the tolling of its bells once marked the beginning and end of working hours on the sugar plantations.
Cuba Travel Expert last site inspection of Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus, Cuba
Trinidad is the Spanish colonization come alive. Small cobbled streets wind their way up the hill, where a typical Spanish church looms over the city. I love the small town Trinidad, it is a bit touristy especially during the afternoon when the Buses from Havana, Varadero and Cienfuegos stop by this jewel of the southern coast, so you should early morning or stay the night in one of the city hotels or many private houses. There are lots, a disco, open air dancing in the square and the beautiful museums that gives you the Cuban culture and history from the beginning, there is no other town closer to Havana that would give you the real Cuba.
Registration 50012267 |