Museo Romántico
Trinidad has a number of museums housed in colonial mansions,
but one of the best is the beautifully renovated Museo Romántico
overlooking the main square, Plaza Mayor. The Plaza Mayor is the
historic centre of Trinidad and has been declared a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. The mansions, or palaces, that surround the square
date back to the 18th and 19th centuries when trade in sugar and
slaves brought great wealth to the area.
The Museo Romántico, or Brunet Palace, was built in 1812 by the
wealthy Borrell family but it takes its name from the Brunet
son-in-law who took over the house. The museum displays mostly the
belongings and personal collections of these two grand families and
boasts an excellent exhibition of paintings, decorative furniture
and porcelain from the 1830s.
The mansion itself is the main attraction, however, with the
original marble floors still on display and splendid frescoes and
neoclassical architecture and decoration. The Plaza Mayor is an
un-missable attraction in Trinidad and visitors will do themselves
an injustice if they don't explore some of these magnificent old
houses, which provide so much insight into a certain period of
Cuban history.
Address: Calle Echerri 52
Museo Romantico
Judith Duk
Museo Histórico Municipal
This neo-classical mansion belonged to one of the richest
families in Cuba, the Borrell family, between 1827 and 1830 but it
was bought by German sugarcane plantation owner Justo Cantero, a
controversial figure in local gossip. The mansion, now a museum, is
still called Casa Cantero.
The grandiose house, just off Plaza Mayor, is in itself the main
attraction, with beautiful wall murals depicting classical scenes
and splendid decor in the rooms. Apart from the cool, stylish
rooms, the museum also displays some exhibits relating to the sugar
industry and history of Trinidad, including collections of
weaponry, furniture, art and important documents.
One of Casa Cantero's most popular attractions is the superb
view that can be seen from the mansion's tower - from here you can
see wonderful vistas of Trinidad and the Escambray Mountains. This
view alone will more than justify the entrance fee for
photographers. The museum starts getting crowded after 11am, when
the tour buses arrive, so it is best to visit early in the morning
to enjoy the charm of the place.
Address: 423 Simón Bolívar
Museo Historico Municipal
Judith Duk
Ancón Beach
The soft sand and still, warm waters backed by palm trees make
the beach at Playa Ancón a popular excursion from Trinidad.
Situated at the end of the peninsula, seven miles (12km) south of
Trinidad, Playa Ancón offers watersports and some good offshore
snorkelling and diving sites. The colourful coral, rock tunnels and
other exciting features of the seabed make this beach a scuba
divers playground.
Visitors can take a yacht out into the ocean for a swim, or hire
boats to explore the coast or go fishing. The beach is famous among
locals and travellers alike and the crowds there are a great mix of
the two: it can be pleasant to go during the week when it is
quieter; but, although it can get crowded during the weekend, it is
quite fun watching the locals cavort and it is a good opportunity
to mingle and meet people.
Make sure to bring snacks or a picnic because food stalls at the
beach are limited and the hotels along the beach front generally
only cater for their guests. A lovely way to see the countryside is
to cycle from Trinidad to this beautiful beach - passing through a
picturesque little village on the way - which is not strenuous.
Address: Seven miles (12km) south of Trinidad
Playa Ancon
Esteban De Sousa
![]()
Trinidad is relatively easy to negotiate on foot as most
attractions are in the historic hub, centred around the Plaza
Mayor. It is a charming and generally very safe town for walkers
and getting around on foot somehow suits the ponderous pace of life
in Trinidad. Playa Ancón's beaches are serviced by minibuses,
usually from about 8am until dusk, running along Maceo. Taxis are
available, as are car rental agencies, though streets can be
somewhat labyrinthine and are known by different names which can
make driving confusing. You won't struggle to hire a horse-drawn
wagon either, should the urge strike you.
A novel way to explore the area is on the vintage steam train,
dating back to 1907, that travels to Valle de los Ingenios. The
train generally leaves Trinidad at about 9.30am and returns at 2pm.
There are also very popular horseback tours of the valley and many
people get around the area on bicycles. All in all, it is a small
and friendly place, and very easy to get around.
A holiday in Trinidad provides a taste of traditional Cuba, and
travellers are invariably enchanted with the town. The centre of
Trinidad itself is a living colonial museum and visitors enjoy
salsa-ing the night away in the central square, where the bars
serve up delicious mojitos. There is also an intriguing market
selling local handicrafts to browse through.
Attractions in Trinidad include the Iglesia Parroquial de la
Santisima, the largest church in Cuba, which has an extraordinary
white interior that makes it feel light, cool and vast. There are
also several interesting museums, like the Trinidad Architecture
Museum. So much of Trinidad's charm is due to its well-preserved
colonial architecture and the Museo Historico Municipal and the
Museo Romantico are both stunning examples of old colonial mansions
which have been turned into museums. They house collections
composed largely of the private belongings and art of the wealthy
and influential families that once lived in them. Both are on the
Plaza Mayor, the old town square.
Trinidad is also remarkably well-situated for excursions out
into the countryside. It is just a few minutes' drive from one of
Cuba's loveliest beaches, Ancon, and the Embalse Hanabanilla lake
and waterfalls which are very popular with hikers and cyclists.
And, of course, there is the beautiful and historically absorbing
Valle de los Ingenios to be explored and enjoyed. You can also
quickly reach the charming city of Sancti Spiritus, which is a
continuation of the shabby colonial glory of Trinidad.
The best time to travel to Trinidad is during the cool, dry
months between December and April, which is high season for tourism
in Cuba. The rest of the year the weather is sweltering, humid and
wet.
Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of the Sugar Mills)
This picturesque emerald valley was once the centre of the sugar
trade industry in Cuba, and home to the plantations that brought
wealth and prosperity to Trinidad in the 18th and 19th centuries.
At the peak of the sugar trade there were over 70 sugar cane mills
in the valley area and about 30,000 slaves working on the
plantations.
Today, the ruins of estates, sugar mills and other remnants are
visited by tourists who are attracted by the beauty of the valley
and the historical significance of the slave trade that operated
during the valley's boom years. The main site is the Manaca Iznaga,
a striking 144ft (44m) high tower that was used by a plantation
owner, one of the wealthiest men in Cuba, Pedro Iznaga, to keep
watch over his slaves working in the fields. The bells in this
tower would toll to signal the end of the working day. Visitors can
climb the tower for impressive views over the countryside.
Along with Trinidad, the Valle de los Ingenios has been declared
a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Horse riding tours to the valley,
departing from Trinidad, are a popular way to see the sights and
take in the beautiful surroundings.
Address: Carretera de Sancti Spiritus (8km from Trinidad)
Valley of the Sugar Mills
Wilder Mendez (Lezumbalaberenjena)
Santa Clara
Located 55 miles (88km) north of Trinidad, the city of Santa
Clara is best known for its Che Memorial at the Plaza de la
Revolución, and monuments relating to the Cuban Revolution. The
armoured train monument (Monumento a la Toma del Tren Blindado)
marks the spot where Che attacked the train, sending Batista's
troops to Santiago de Cuba, a battle which was a decisive factor in
the victory of the revolutionaries.
The Ernesto Che Guevara Monument was built to pay homage to the
memory of Che and his comrades who fought with him in Bolivia, and
the enormous monument incorporates a huge statue of Che with his
famous phrase
(Forever Onwards Towards Victory),
as well as representations of many aspects of his revolutionary
life.
To one side of the statue, a huge stone block has been inscribed
in full with his farewell letter to Fidel Castro. The monument also
includes a mausoleum where the remains of Che and his comrades have
been interred, and a museum with displays about his life and
involvement in the revolution.
Santa Clara
Judith Duk
Sancti Spiritus
The beautiful colonial city of Sancti Spiritus, with its
gracious people, delightful architecture and maze of narrow,
winding cobblestone streets, remains almost completely detached
from the main tourist trail in Cuba. Located in the centre of the
country, 43 miles (70km) east of Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus lies on
the banks of the Yayabo River, exuding charm, affability and
authenticity.
The old town dates back to 1514 and has been declared a National
Monument. It is filled with picturesque, colourful little houses
with uneven red-tiled roofs and weathered colonial homes. It also
boasts the much-photographed green-towered church which dates back
to the early 16th century, making it the oldest church in Cuba.
Streets are crammed with horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, scooters
and pedestrians licking at ice-creams flavoured with a fruit which
grows along the banks of the river. Spanning the river is the
Puente Yayabo, an arched brick bridge built by the Spanish in 1815,
and the city's most famous sight.
The population of Sancti Spiritus is only about 100,000 and its
rundown charm and friendly, laid-back people are part of its
appeal. It is also renowned to be the home of many famous Cuban
singers and musicians so it is worth seeking out some music when
you visit.
Sancti Spiritus
Judith Duk
Museo Romantico
Judith Duk
Museo Historico Municipal
Judith Duk
Playa Ancon
Esteban De Sousa
