Top sights to see in and around Trinidad in Cuba
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Trinidad, a town in the central Cuban province of Sancti Spiritus, is one of the island’s most popular tourist spots thanks to its easygoing nature and abundant attractions. Founded 500 years ago, the town is described by tourism officials as a museum in itself thanks to its historic architecture, which gives it a colonial ambience.
You can see the many sights of Trinidad as part of a singles tour with Explore Worldwide.
Find out why UNESCO added Trinidad to its World Heritage List
Trinidad was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988, with the organisation describing it as “an outstanding example of a colonial city”. Unlike many such settlements, Trinidad has retained its historic core to this day, and anyone with even a passing interest in architecture will be sure to enjoy its many beautiful public
squares and antique buildings.
Some of the town’s most impressive structures were built in the 18th and 19th centuries, during a time when the area was hugely prosperous due to the blossoming sugar trade. Prime examples include the Palacio Brunet and the Palacio Cantero, both of which are located on the Plaza Mayor – the focal point for all streets in the town. Built in neoclassical style, the Palacio Cantero is now home to the popular Museo de Historia Municipal (Municipal History Museum). Nearby lies the Valle de Los Ingenios, which is effectively a living museum to sugar production. The area is dotted with 75 ruined sugar mills, barracks, summer mansions and other leftovers from the industry’s heyday. Particularly impressive is the 45 m Manaca-Iznaga Tower, which was built in 1816 and features a bell that was once used to mark the beginning and end of working hours on the sugar plantations.
Immerse yourself in history at a museum
As well as the Museo de Historia Municipal, there are a host of other cultural institutions in and around Trinidad offering an insight into the town’s past. In fact, there are more museums in Trinidad per head of population here than in any other part of Cuba.
Well worth a look is the Romantic Museum at Brunet Palace, which features 14 exhibition rooms that accurately recreate a Trinidad colonial house from 1830-60, complete with original furniture and artwork.
At the National Museum of the Struggle against Bandits, visitors can view weapons, uniforms and maps, while recalling the final days of the Cuban Revolution – a chain of events that has a huge influence on the country to this day.
Others include the Guamuhaya Archaeological Museum and the Architectural Museum of Trinidad.
Mingle with the locals
Trinidad is arguably the best place in Cuba to interact with the island’s citizens and find out a bit about their daily lives. In many of Cuba’s bigger resorts, the hotels are situated miles away from the nearest town or village, so the only Cuban people you’ll typically see are those who work at the accommodation.
However, that’s simply not the case in Trinidad. There are a handful of decent independent city centre hotels along with 300 ‘casas particulares’ – private accommodation or homestays. This means that not only is interaction between tourists and locals encouraged, it’s pretty much inevitable – and that’s no bad thing given the famed hospitality and easygoing nature of the average Cuban. It’s one of the key reasons that a holiday in Trinidad makes for such a relaxed getaway