We travel together to discover the wonders of the city of Trinidad, the cradle of Cuban culture, but also of the very green Valle de los Ingenios.
Trinidad of Cuba and the Los Ingenios Valley they are among the most fascinating destinations of the Caribbean archipelago, both from a landscape and historical and cultural point of view. Declared a UNESCO heritage site in 1988, the Valle de Los Ingenios area is characterized by its enchanting nature, but also by its fascinating and perfectly preserved colonial architecture. Historically, the province of Sancti Spíritus – to which the valley belongs – has played a crucial role in the production and trade of sugar, which has enabled good economic development and made Trinidad one of the most important cities in the Caribbean archipelago.
If you want to savor the most festive and colorful atmosphere of Cuba, Trinidad is the city for you! Its historic center is dotted with colorful houses and wonderful, perfectly preserved historic buildings from the colonial era, dating back to the period of Spanish domination. The peculiar architectural style pervades the streets. which are teeming with restaurants and clubs where you can dance salsa and sip canchanchara, the symbolic drink of Trinidad made with rum, honey and sugar.
Music is another omnipresent element in the life of Trinidad, both day and night and while walking through the alleys of the historic center you can come across many street musicians, whose notes will accompany you, making your visit magical. The city center is not very large, so a couple of days will be enough to admire the most important buildings and visit the main museums, all located a few meters from the central square, from which we suggest you start your visit.
Plaza Mayor is the true heart of the city center and is surrounded by 18th and 19th century colonial buildings. Here the charm of historic Cuba is preserved to perfection while the atmosphere is relaxed. Next to the square we find the Guamuhaya Archeology Museum, built in the 18th century and inside which a collection of interesting pre-Columbian artefacts and objects dating back to the beginning of the Spanish invasion is preserved.
We also recommend you visit the main church of Trinidad (Holy Trinity Parish Church, 18th century) and the Cantero Palace, a majestic nineteenth-century palace with a beautiful internal courtyard and from whose tower you can enjoy the best panoramic view of the entire city! The Palacio also houses the Museo de Historia Municipal, dedicated to the colonial history of Trinidad. To end on a high note, we suggest you move away a little from the Plaza Mayor and reach theHermitage of Our Lady of Candelaria de la Popa, a splendid, albeit dilapidated, eighteenth-century building located on a hill from which you can observe the city.
The road that leads from Trinidad to the regional capital, Sancti Spiritus, allows you to cross the Valley of the Ingenios, a valley historically devoted to the production and trade of sugar. In fact, the town owes its name to the numerous ingenios, the sugar mills that brought significant economic development to the region in the 19th century. Precisely because of its great historical and economic importance, UNESCO has decided to include it among its World Heritage Sites together with the city of Trinidad. In the valley it is also possible to visit the Iznaga Tower, built in the 19th century to monitor the work of slaves during their work in the fields. Currently the tower is accessible and it is possible to enjoy a splendid panoramic view.
If you love the sea and vast, sunny beaches, however, about ten kilometers from Trinidad is the splendid Playa Ancon beach, located on the peninsula of the same name and easily reachable by car in less than twenty minutes. The white sandy beach extends along the entire coast and is never crowded, so it is the ideal place to get some sun and relax! On the Ancon peninsula there is also the Cayo Blanco International Dive Center, an equipped center dedicated to all scuba diving enthusiasts!
