Villa Clara

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The city of Santa Clara is the capital of the province of Villa Clara located towards the northern central part of the island. It is one of the largest cities in population with approximately 175 000 inhabitants. It was founded close to the Belico and Cubanicay Rivers in 1689.

Santa Clara is very clean and calm city; it conserves a valuable architecture with neo-classic styles, among them: Provincial Palace which dates back to 1922; Museum of Decorative Arts, with a broad collection of colonial antiquities and furniture of a variety of styles; La Caridad Theatre of 1885 and the Leoncio Vidal Park, among others.

This city played an important role, in the Independence War in the 19th century as well as the fight against the Batista dictatorship at the end of the 1950´s. In the city of Santa Clara and the rest of the region the figure of legendary guerrilla commander Ernesto Che Guevara stood out. An important event in this region was the famous and definitive Battle of Santa Clara which lasted 90 minutes and marked the final stage of the struggle for the definitive national independence. As a permanent reference point of this historic event, you can visit the Tren Blindado Monument. (Disrail Train Monument).

One of the most impressive visits is the Ernesto Che Guevara Memorial located in the plaza (square of same name) wich holds the remain of the Argentine Guerilla commander as well as the remains of his companions who felt in combat in Bolivia in 1967. Che´s remains were brought to Cuba from Bolivia 30 years after his death.

It is worth visiting the surrounding towns like Camaguaní, mainly agricultural municipality with an abundant number of Cigar factories; Remedios; Caibarien, town of fishermen surrounded by deep waters home to lobster farms now with a recently build road of 48 kilometers long called ¨pedraplen¨ which link the main land with northern keys: Las Brujas, Santa Maria, Ensenachos, Cobos, Majá, Fragoso, Frances, Las Picúas and Español de Adentro among others.

The keys´environment is perfect for those that love nature tourism; for those that like archaeology there is the Pelo de Oro or Muñeco Caves; or plans excursions to the close Caiman Grande Lighthouse and the San Pascual ship, an authentic relic of the naval industry which is currently a floating hotel.

The province is the second on the island with mountains, the Escambray which is shared with the provinces of Cienfuegos and Sancti Spiritus. Other attractions are the Hanabanilla Lake, one of the major artificial reservoirs on the island constructed on the foothills of a mountain and where you can find flora and fauna reserves in addition to the medicinal-mineral waters and Elguea thermal waters.

Villa Clara
villa clara map
Distances

Santa Clara-Havana: 280 km
Santa Clara-Sancti Spiritus: 85 km
Santa Clara-Trinidad: 98 km
Santa Clara-Topes de Collantes: 77 km

Teatro de La Caridad
Teatro la Caridad santa clara cuba
El Carmen Park (Parque del Tamarindo)
Carmen Park Santa Clara

Things to do

Attractions

  • ✓ Leoncio Vidal Park.
  • ✓ Che Guevara mausoleum
  • ✓ Museum of Che Guevara
  • ✓ Statue of Che Guevara Holding a Child
  • ✓ Theater La Caridad
  • ✓ Museum of Music Alejandro García Caturla
  • ✓ Toma del Tren Blindado Monument
  • ✓ House City Gallery
  • ✓ Martí Gallery, Cuban Cultural Property Fund
  • ✓ Gallery of National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba
  • ✓ Gallery of Encounters of the City House

Naturals and Park

Hanabanilla. Cuba river located in the mountainous center of the island. Born in the mountain range known as Guamuhaya Group, the Embalse Hanabanilla it is a tributary of the river Arimao together with the Guanayara, Black and Jivacoa rivers

hanabanilla lake santa clara cuba

Restaurants

  • Hostal Florida Center
  • Sabore Arte
  • El Alba
  • Casa del Gobernador
  • Restaurante El Sol
  • Santa Rosalia Complejo Gastronomico Cultural
  • La Aldaba
  • Don Quijote
  • Hotel Los Caneyes
  • La Marquesina
  • Quijote Buffet
  • Cafe Rumbos Europa

Attractions

  • Remedios: The 8th Colonial Villa was called San Juan de los Remedios founded by the Spanish in 1515 and is currently known as Remedios. It is located just 9 kilometers from the port of Caibarien and approximately 45 kilometers from the city of Santa Clara towards the center of the island.
  • Cayo Ensenachos: One of the most beautiful keys in the Cuban archipelago. It is part of a complex of small islands located in the northern coast of the province of Villa Clara. It connects with the rest of the territory by means of a 45 kilometer road over the sea close to the city of Caibarien.