Sancti Spiritus, Cuba
Tourism Information
Located in central Cuba and bathed by the peaceful waters
of the Caribbean Sea, Sancti Spíritus offers a perfect
combination of rivers, mountains and forest resting upon
fertile clay soil.
The Escambray Mountain Range—one of the most important in
Cuba—covers 15 percent of the province. One of the main
attractions in the area is Trinidad, regarded as main Cuba's
museum town because it is among the most beautiful colonial
sites in the country.
Founded in 1515 under the name of villa de la Santísima
Trinidad, it was recently deemed a Human Heritage Jewel by
UNESCO because it features some of the best historical
architecture in Latin America.
Trinidad brings together elements from the 18th, 19th and
20th centuries. Tourists will enjoy visiting its artfully
created balconies, admirable ironworks, finely-wrought
staircases and multicolored facades.
It has a central square called Plaza Mayor where a statue of
Terpsichore—the muse of dance—provides inspiration for even
the least sensitive among us. The Romantic Museum' located
in the Brunet Palace' and the Guamuhaya Museum, displaying
elements of the islands aboriginal culture, are not to be
missed.
The nearby San Luis Valley, otherwise known as the Valle de
los Ingenios, is a living museum of the sugar industry,
featuring 75 ruined sugar mills, summer mansions, barracks
and other facilities related to the field.
This panoply of tourist delights is made complete by the
famous Manaca- Iznaga Tower, which was built in 1816. It is
45 meters high, and the toll of its bells once marked the
beginning and end of working hours on the sugar plantations.
María Aguilar Beach, near the village, offers warm, shallow
waters, as well as ocean floors that are rich in gorgonians,
coral, chelonians and fish. Hotel facilities and a diving
center provide excellent tourist services on this beach.