Trinidad
The Caribbean blue Trinidad is a must to visit in Cuba. It is pure magic! Despite being small here you can get easily lost. All the colourful little houses look alike and all sorts of vehicles can be seen on the cobbles. According to a lot of historians, this is the most well-preserved colonial town in Cuba.
Trinidad was founded in 1514 by Diego Velasquez. It evolved rather slowly in its first centuries of existence and towards the end of the 18th century it amounted to 1200 inhabitants. This was a difficult period for the city as it was either destroyed by fires or it was subjected to attacks by English, French, or Holand pirates. Nowadays Trinidad still preserves the colonial traits of the time. Arabic architectural style prevails and differentiates Trinidadfrom all the other Cuban cities. Here you may see over 70 architectural buildings. The House of Palacio de Isnaga is a must! It was owned by an old family that used to have a huge plantation in the Valley of the Sugar Mills. Now the house is a museum with a tower that gives you a view of the city from above.
The Mayor Square (The Old Square) is completely renovated /information from 2019/.
You can take a walk in the morning, drink guarapo and climb over the town along the narrow streets all the way to the abandoned cathedral. I promise the view will be worth it – Trinidad and the Caribbean Sea from above.
La canchánchara is a typical drink in Trinidad. The popular cocktail contains honey, lemon, alcohol, ice and water. You can try it at particular cafes close to the Central square – Plaza Mayor and in the La Canchánchara tavern.
Casa De La Musica is located in the very centre. It is an open space area – the perfect place to take a sip of Mojito and try some Cuban salsa and Son with the locals. And with me of course =)))
The building of the Historical Museum is from the 19 century. The architectural outlook of the Central Square is inspired from the Reiessainse times and once again – there is a breathtaking view from the museum tower to Trinidad and the Caribbean Sea. If you want to freshen up along the way just have some guarapo /sugar cane juice/ that will be squeezed in front of you for 2-3 Pesos.
The nearby beach of Ancon on the Caribbean Sea is also a must. It is 8 km away so a taxi would take you there for 2 EUR per person. You will see tranquil and pure waters, golden sand, and seastars.
Valle de los Ingenios (Valle of the Sugar Mills) is another good idea situated 6 km away. The ideal climate conditions here are the reason for the massive production of sugar from sugar canes in the 18 and 19 centuries. The slaves from Africa from the 1500 – 1800 period were responsible for the export around the world. They did the hard labour. You can see the slaves’ old houses and also the tower that used to serve the slave masters to watch for escapers and any violations of the common rules. Colonial Spain also built a railroad for export for the Kasilda Harbour nearby Trinidad from there to Europe and around the world.
EL Cubano will surely be an ideal spot for sunbathing along a wonderful waterfall.
