Trinidad, Cuba
Trinidad, just over a four hour drive South East from Havana is a crumbling jewel of a small city, just a few miles from Cuba’s Caribbean coast. Along with Antigua in Guatemala, Trinidad is one of this region’s most renowned examples of Spanish Colonial Architecture (both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites).
Trinidad was founded by Diego Velazquez De Cuellar, the first Spanish Governor of Cuba in 1514 - just three years after the first Spanish settlement (or “invasion” - a word which more properly captures the violence and upheaval involved) of Cuba.
Very beautiful to look at, Trinidad is nonetheless also quite compact and after a stay of more than two days might appear suffocatingly tiny. However the town is a useful base to explore nearby attractions like the stunning Parque Natural Topes de Collantes and indulgently relaxing Caribbean beach Playa de Ancon.
The Museo Nacional de la Lucha Contra Bandidos is well worth visiting - giving a (highly editorialised) account of the Revolution - in particular the suppression of anti-Castro forces ("bandits") just after Castro, Che and company took power in 1959.
There are plenty of bars with lively salsa music on offer - even though the passion of the musicians can sometimes be a stark contrast to audiences of arhythmic gringos, bolted in unmoving terror and embarrassment to their seats. Palenque De Los Congos Reales and perhaps a bit more lively and participatory Casa De La Trova are two Salsa venues just East of the beautiful Plaza Mayor. The most interesting nightspot however is Disco Ayala - a nightclub set deep within a cave complex. The distinctiveness of Ayala’s setting makes it a worthwhile reward for those undertaking the notable adventure of trying to find it in the dark (take an almost invisible path at the North East most point of Avenida Simon Bolivar, at the point where the main road hooks to the left).
When staying in Trinidad seek out the accommodation provided in Casa Hospedaja “Jose Ricardo” (contact details available in the Casas Particulares section) - you are unlikely to find better seafood served up anywhere in Cuba.
This post is part of the excellent Carnival Of Cities Site - click here to visit.
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Have you heard that Songlines World Music Magazine has just launched a guided music tour of Cuba.
The group meets in Havana, whizzes off to Baracoa, then slowly travels back to Havana stopping off at key cuban music locations including Trinidad. The guide for the tour is Philip Sweeney aclaimed author of 'The Rough Guide to Cuban Music', so you will be getting an inside guide to the music of Cuba.
If you want to find out more see Songlines Music Travel Cuban Music Tours. The tour covers travel expenses in Cuba only, so you need to arrange your own transportation to Havana and back.
Hope this is of interest to you.
Timjim (for Songlines