TRINIDAD SHOPPING

Shopping in Trinidad

TRINIDAD STREET MARKET

Trinidad, given its starring role on the tourist circuit, is one of the better shopping towns in central and eastern Cuba (though far from a shopper's paradise). In addition to the requisite cigar and music shops, several of Trinidad's atmospheric, cobblestone streets are converted daily into street markets featuring handicrafts, lace, and clothing items. While lace and clothing are the main attractions, you can also find interesting woodcarvings, musical instruments, masks, and a host of ceramic works. The street with the most variety tends to be Peña, near the Museo Municipal de Historia tower, while most of the lace and textile merchants, who occasionally have good guayabera shirts (simple, short-sleeved cotton shirt, with pockets and pleats, worn by men), tend to cluster on the small streets just east of the Plaza Mayor.

The art gallery on the south side of the Plaza Mayor, Galería de Arte ARTex, has two floors of contemporary art, much of it very accessible, and the traditional souvenir renderings of Trinidad.

The place for cigars and tobacco paraphernalia in town, La Casa del Tabaco, has two branches and carries all the finest Cuban cigars, carefully stored. The shop at Lino Pérez 296 (at the corner of José Martí) is open daily from 10am to 6pm; the branch on Francisco Javier Zerquera (at the corner of Maceo), is open daily from 10am to 6pm.

Trinidad Shops

TRINIDAD ART GALLERY

Many of the artistic ceramic statues you'll see for sale around Trinidad Cuba are hand made by the famous Santander family, whose history in this art form goes back hundreds of years. Tourists can visit their quaint factory where all the art is produced by El Alfarero Casa Chichi, Andrés Berro 51, between Abel Santamaría and Pepito Tey (tel. 41/99-3146), however we suggest to call in advance and tell them you're coming.

The only Cuban CD store in Trinidad is the ARTEX which is beside  the very famous Casa de Música on Fernando H. Echerri, where you'll discover nightly Cuban musicians performing  live music. The band will usually play just about any type of Music that you want to hear.


CUBAN ART GUIDE