Trinidad

Trinidad is one of the seven Villas founded by Diego Velásquez in 1514 and in its beginnings was baptized with the name of La Santisima Trinidad. It is located in the south-eastern part of the province of Sancti Spiritus surrounded by the mountains of Topes de Collantes and bathed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea. Trinidad constitutes one of the most beautiful and better conserved city on the island with a great architectural, historic and cultural value.

The city´s geographic position benefited by trade with Jamaica mainly in the slave trade which were used in the sugar plantations. In the early 19th century marked an increase of the development of sugar cane plantations in the fertile soil of the region particularly in the San Luis Valley once known as the Valley of sugar Mills (Valle de los Ingenios).

Trinidad has the magic of having stopped in time, it is an impressive and authentic city museum between the ocean and mountain. Trinidad had its beginnings in the 16th century and still conserves all of its extraordinary enchantments, a jewel of colonial architecture in Cuba and America and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988.

You can see in Trinidad a diverse number of architectural styles like the neo-classic and baroque, represented in its opulent palaces, rich residences, which are currently museums. You can admire the elegant facades, its balconies as well as refined and large iron doors, wooden doors, and colourful stained glass windows. The Mayor Plaza is the center of the city, here you will find the Santisima Trinidad Cathedral; the Brunet Palace, a magnificent construction dating back to 1741 whose houses the Romantic Museum with fabulous antiquities and art work; the San Fernando Convent, the Cantero Palace, Archeological Museum and the Humboldt Museum. In the Segarta Plaza you can find the oldest mansions in the city, like the Trova House that dates back to 1777 decorated with beautiful murals and are an example of the effervescent cultural activity.

Close to the city, the San Luis Valley or Valle de los Ingenios also Cultural Heritage Site with its plantation and sugar mill ruins. It has an elevation of 192 meters offering an integral panorama, where you can appreciate the La Pastora, Santa Rosa and San Luis Valleys and the Agabama River.

The Sanchez-Iznaga House that belonged to one of the richest families in Cuba, is now the Architecture Museum and the captivating Manaca Iznaga Tower with its 43.5 meters that allows the dominance of all of the valley´s landscapes.

The Escambray Mountains can be distinguished, which is the island´s second largest mountain range. With some 800 meters above sea level, the Topes de Collantes National Park, is one of the largest park in the country.

Located between Cienfuegos and Trinidad, you can find Guajimico very special for its singular cave system that flows to beautiful beaches.