Trinidad was founded on December 23, 1514 by Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar under the name Villa De la Santísima Trinidad. Francisco Iznaga, a rich Basque landowner in the western portion of Cuba during the first 30 years of the colonization of Cuba, was elected Mayor of Bayamo in 1540.Iznaga was the originator of a powerful lineage that finally settled in Trinidad where the Torre Iznaga is. His descendents fought for the Independence of Cuba and the Annexation to the US from 1820 to 1900.Its one of the best preserved cities in the Caribbean from the time when the sugar trade was the main industry in the region
Nowadays, Trinidad's main industry is tobacco processing. The older parts of town are well preserved as the Cuban tourism industry sees benefit from tour groups. In contrast, some parts of town outside the non-tourist areas are very run down and in disrepair, especially in the centre.
Tourism officials like to say Trinidad is a museum in itself. Those visiting the 500-year-old city will find Spanish colonial architecture, underscoring a colonial ambiance that marks the tiny city one of the country’s greatest attractions. Only a few square blocks in size, historic Trinidad is famous for its lovely, cobblestone streets, pastel coloured houses with elaborate wrought-iron grills, as well as majestic palaces and plazas. The city can be toured in a few hours, by foot or by horse-drawn carriage. The city’s is located near both the Escambray Mountains and the Caribbean beach.
One of the area’s most interesting sights is the Valley of the Sugar Mills, which has been declared a World Heritage Site. The valley has around 70 long-standing sugar mills that are a reminder of the importance of sugar to the Cuban economy over the centuries.It has la Torre Iznaga, a 45 meter tower built by Alejo Iznaga Borrell in 1816. Twenty km from the city is Topes de Collantes, one of Cuba’s premier ecotourism centres. Another attraction is the Casilda Bay, which attracts both snorkelers and divers. A nearby islet has pristine beaches.
Ancon Beach is a white sand beach that boasts a number of three- and four star hotels. Ancón was one of the first new resorts to be developed in Cuba following the 1959 revolution. Along the Ancon Peninsula are three hotels: Hotel Costa Sur (South Coast Hotel), Hotel Ancon and Brisas Trinidad del Mar (opened in 2002).
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| Trinidad Cuba Mansion |
PLACES TO VISIT
The best-preserved colonial city in Cuba, in the shadow of the Escambray mountains, Trinidad was not even linked by road to the rest of the country until the 1950s.
Declared a national monument by the Cuban government this city is very much as it was four centuries ago, the beauty of its baroque architecture and cobblestones squares harking back to a bygone era when Trinidad was a key player in the Caribbean slave trade.
BAYAVO BRIGE
Built in the early 19th century, this Roman-style bridge symbolizes the city of Sancti Spíritus and the province. The town’s 17th-century Iglesia Parroquial Mayor (Major Parish Church) is the oldest church in Cuba and a good example of Spanish-Arab influence.
San José de Lago
Thousands of families were founded here by emigrants from the Canary Islands; most of them later engaged in tobacco growing, keeping their traditions alive.
Valle de los Ingenios
East of Trinidad are the ruins of some 70 centuries-old sugar mills. The stunning, 146-foot-high Iznaga Tower, built around 1840, looms over the valley as a reminder of days when slaves worked the cane fields and the mills.
Ermita de la Popa
(the Popa Hermitage). Inspired by Spanish maritime tradition, this church was built centuries ago on the road up to La Vigía in Trinidad so that it could be seen from the sea.
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| Trinidad Beaches in Cuba |
Ancon and Maria Aguilar Beaches In addition to its beautiful natural surroundings and colonial appearance, Trinidad is located by the sea, which has two excellent beaches: Ancon and Maria Aguilar, Ancon Beach is just a little over 7 miles (12 km) from the city. It is two and a half miles (4 km) long, with white sand and green-blue water. Its seabed is ideal for scuba diving.
The Ancon Peninsula is bordered by a narrow shelf of sandy bottom, with colorful patches of coral, ridges up to 16 and a half feet (5 meters) high, tunnels and other features. It has 21 scuba-diving sites, where you can see concentrations of Black Coral (Antipathes spp.), a wide varietay of spnges, gorgonians, Common Sea Fans (Gorgonia spp.) and many kinds of colorfull fish.
TRINIDAD VACATION PACKAGES
Location and How to Get There
The Ancon Peninsula is slightly over 7.5 miles (12 km) from Trinidad (232.5, or 375 km, east of Havana, in the middle of the country). Modern roads link the city to the city of Sancti Spiritus, capitol of the province of the same name, and to the city of Cienfuegos (25 miles, or 40 km, away). A large part of the road to Cienfuegos hugs the coast and offers some beautiful views. There are three national airports in Sancti Spiritus Province. The one serving Trinidad handles the most flights-of small and medium sized planes-and links that city with other important tourist resorts in the country.
