Trinidad consists of just a few square blocks of cobbled streets but is one of Cuba’s colonial jewels, and its magnificent location between the soaring mountains of the Escambray range and the gorgeous coast of the Caribbean Sea is attracting an increasing number of tourists. Together with the nearby Valle de los Ingenios, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988.
The buildings in the Old Town are of neo-classical and baroque style with Moorish influence, with houses painted in pastel hues with arty balconies and wrought iron railings. Trinidad has been one of the Caribbean’s best-preserved centers from the time when the sugar trade dominated industry in the region.
Despite its small size, several joints bop with live Cuban music nightly, with Casa de la Música being a long standing favorite. Outside the tourist areas, some parts of Trinidad are much neglected and in disrepair, particularly in the center. The Ancón peninsula just outside town beckons with a long sandy beach and numerous resort hotels.
Highlights
Mayor square: is the historic center of the town, and many of the buildings surrounding the central square once belonged to wealthy land owners before the revolution.
Archeological Museum: houses a collection that includes natural sciences and pre-Columbian Cuban artifacts.
Valley of San Luis: is just a few miles from town and was home to 48 sugar plantations at the beginning of the 19th century.
Santa Ana square: boasts the ruins of Santa Ana Church and Real Cárcel, a former jail which today houses a touristy restaurant and souvenir shop.****
Maria Aguilar Beach: with its warm and shallow waters offers rich coral life, sponges, small tropical fish and different species of starfish.****