More or less in the center of the island of Cuba, about 3 hours' drive from Havana, there is Casa Particular in Santa Clara, a lovely city immersed in the countryside of the province of Villa Clara. Definitely much smaller and less touristy than the capital, Santa Clara is nevertheless very well known and appreciated, not only for the beautiful atmosphere that can be felt there, which is that of a large rural town, an interesting meeting place for workers, farmers and university students, but also as an important turning point in Cuba's revolutionary history.
Getting to Santa Clara will not be difficult. Although there is a small airport in the area, most tourists arrive in Cuba at one of the major airports (Havana or Santiago de Cuba) and then travel to this city by car or bus. To the National Bus Terminal that is, the bus terminal can also be reached from the main Cuban cities of Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus and Cienfuegos, all less than 100 kilometers from Santa Clara. Those who prefer to travel by car can rent one in Havana, of course, and travel the 300 kilometers that separate the two cities along the (free) highway.
The first of the Cuban cities to be liberated by "Che", in 1958, from the Batista regime, Santa Clara is today a young and culturally very lively city. Here is the most prestigious university in Cuba, after that of Havana, The Concoction it is the trendiest LGBT cultural center and Ciudad Metal is the most authentic rock festival in the country. So here are five things to do so you don't miss out on the best of the city.
Immerse yourself in Cuban culture in Parque Vidal
Parque Vidal is one of the liveliest parks in Santa Clara and the whole of Cuba. Here you can walk among the locals, hear the pleasant sound of their chatter, see children being carried around on carts pulled by goats and the elderly in guayabera play chess or dominoes on the benches. And also enjoy the shows of the open-air theater or the concerts of the municipal orchestra, which has played in the park gazebo every Thursday and Sunday evening since 1902. And then there is the statue of El Niño de la Bota, the "child with the boot", symbol of the city.
On the east side of Parque Vidal is the beautiful neoclassical building of Provincial Palace, built between 1902 and 1912, which today houses the José Martí Library of Santa Clara and a collection of rare books by authors from Cuba and the Americas. The Museo des Artes Decorativas and the Teatro La Caridad also overlook the park, but on the north side. The Museum of Decorative Arts is an eighteenth-century building which houses, in an eclectic mix, a very rich collection of furniture of every style and historical era, with baroque desks, art nouveau mirrors and art deco furniture. To appreciate the atmosphere of the museum even more, make sure you don't miss the small chamber orchestra that plays in the evening.
Just a stone's throw from the museum, the La Caridad Theater Santa Clara, inaugurated in 1885, is one of Cuba's three great colonial-era theaters outside Havana and also hosted the great Caruso. The austere neoclassical façade is of great charm, while the interiors are decorated with stuccos and frescoes. Admire the marble statues on the sides of the auditorium and the sumptuous fresco on the round ceiling, the work of Camilo Zalaya.
Learn about the religious devotion of Cubans in the city churches
The devotion of Cuban Catholics has not waned, despite the communists' lack of sympathy for the church. In Santa Clara you can visit, just three blocks from Vidal Park, the catedral de las Santas Hermanas de Santa Clara de Asís, built in 1923 after the demolition of the original which stood right in the park. Inside you can admire the legendary white statue of The Virgin of the Pond, “the virgin of the pond”, so called because it was discovered in a ditch in the 1954s, after having mysteriously disappeared shortly after the consecration of the church in XNUMX.
Celebrating the Revolution and the myth of Che
There are two key places in Santa Clara that recall in a vibrant and scenographic way the revolution in Cuba and the myth of the Argentine commander Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who was also minister of agriculture in Fidel Castro's government: the mausoleum and the "tren armorado ”. The first, Che Guevara's Mausoleum is a huge complex reachable from the center by car (or bicycle) which houses the remains of the commander and his companions who died with him in Bolivia in 1967. The second is the train-museum which commemorates the key episode of the fight against the Batista regime which opened the doors to the Revolucion.
Study the production of cigars in the Fábrica de Tabacos Constantino Pérez Carrodegua
Before leaving, take a few hours to visit the tobacco factory of Santa Clara, one of the best in Cuba, which produces a quality assortment of Montecristo, Partagás and Romeo y Julieta cigars. Enjoy one of the very interesting guided tours in complete tranquility, which will allow you to discover many curiosities about the production of one of the country's symbols, and don't miss, across the street, La Veguita, the small but well-stocked cigar sales outlet , where you can also buy some cheap but good rum or enjoy exquisite coffee blends in the bar at the back.
Enjoy the view from Loma del Capiro
Walking eastwards, up to the edge of the city centre, you will arrive at hill Loma del Capiro. If you want to get to the top you can enjoy the view from the best panoramic point in Santa Clara. This hill was also a strategic point of great importance for Che's troops: right here, to remember him, a metal reproduction of his face, supported by a series of rods. Back in Old Town of Santa Clara, sit at one of the bars to sip a mojito, a typical Cuban cocktail, in the company of the city's open and cheerful inhabitants, who will certainly approach you for a chat.
