In this article, we will guide you through a tour of the must-see treasures of Trinidad and provide suggestions to make your experience unforgettable. Known as the “Museum City of Cuba,” Trinidad unfolds as a historical treasure with its pastel-colored colonial houses, cobblestone streets, art galleries, and museums that recount the wealth accumulated during its heyday in the 17th to 19th centuries, thanks to the sugar and tobacco industries.
Recommendations for Your Tour in Trinidad
If your journey starts from La Habana or Matanzas, it’s important to know that you are approximately 4 hours away from your final destination. Therefore, our first recommendation is to consider booking a night at an accommodation in the city so that your journey can be more complete and relaxed. Alternatively, make sure to start your journey early, optimizing the available time.
What to See in Trinidad?
Plaza Mayor
Once in the city, we recommend starting your journey in Plaza Mayor, the heart of Trinidad. Here, you’ll find some of the most beautiful buildings of this colonial city, many of which were constructed in the 19th century, the peak period of sugar production in Trinidad. The square itself is a beauty with pastel-colored buildings, central gardens with palm trees, and artisan markets on Calle Cristo. Take note of the mansions that belonged to the wealthy landowners of Trinidad. Surrounding Plaza Mayor are the Church of the Holy Trinity, the Museum of Colonial Architecture, the Universal Art Gallery Benito Ortiz, the Archaeology Museum, and the Romantic Museum (Brunet Palace).
Church of the Holy Trinity
The most important religious temple to see in Trinidad is the Church of the Holy Trinity, located next to Plaza Mayor, so be sure to visit it. It took 75 years to build, resulting in a mix of styles, including neoclassical, Greek, and 19th-century Cuban architecture. In addition to its impressive white and yellow facade and bell tower, the interior highlights include altars and marble benches. It’s one of the largest churches in Cuba, so don’t miss it. Admission is free.
Convent of San Francisco de Asís
Another significant attraction is the Convent of San Francisco de Asís, located in Plazuela del Cristo. Built between the 18th and 19th centuries, this convent belonged to the Franciscan Order. It’s no longer used as a religious temple but serves as the National Museum of the Struggle against Bandits. In the museum, you can learn more about the military unit created during the Cuban Revolution to fight counter-revolutionary bands from 1959 to 1965. Exhibits include uniforms, weapons, documents, and personal items of fighters.
Noteworthy is the U-2 plane in the convent’s courtyard, shot down during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, a truck used by Castro’s militias, and even a boat used by the CIA to transport weapons and individuals for counter-revolution in Cuba. One of the most attractive elements of the place is the convent tower, which currently serves as a perfect viewpoint offering a complete view of the Plaza Mayor and its surroundings.
Municipal History Museum
One of the museums you must visit in Trinidad is the Municipal History Museum, also known as Cantero Palace. Its owner, Jesús Germán Cantero, was one of the great promoters of the sugar industry in 19th-century Trinidad, and as you will see in his palace, he certainly did not endure hardships. At the Municipal History Museum, you can learn a lot about the history of Trinidad from its foundation, the slave trade, the importance of the sugar industry, and its subsequent crisis. In this museum, you have one of the best panoramic views to see in Trinidad.
To enjoy these wonderful views, you have to climb the museum tower. However, the last flight of stairs is quite challenging, as it is super steep and lacks a handrail (you have to hold onto the steps to climb). Once at the top, you will be amazed by the views of the old town of Trinidad and the surrounding mountains!
Colonial Architecture Museum
A very interesting site is the Museum of Colonial Architecture. As we mentioned, Trinidad has many colonial mansions of landowners who amassed great wealth thanks to the sugar industry. An example of this is the “Blue House,” which is where the Colonial Architecture Museum is currently located. This mansion belonged to the Sánchez Iznaga family, one of the most powerful in the 19th century in Cuba. It’s impressive how well-preserved the house is. It’s noteworthy that they had a bathroom with a shower separate from the toilet, a luxury at that time. In the Colonial Architecture Museum, you can tour the rooms of the house and see documents, objects, furniture, and different architectural styles to better understand how people lived in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries in Trinidad.
Romantic Museum
Another of the most beautiful palaces to see in Trinidad is the Brunet Palace, where the Romantic Museum is located. It was the first museum inaugurated in Trinidad, in 1973, and you will surely pass by its facade on more than one occasion because it is on one side of the Plaza Mayor. This palace belonged to Count Brunet, a Cuban creole born in Trinidad who made a fortune thanks to sugar plantations. Apart from the beautiful Andalusian patio, considered in its day as the most beautiful in Cuba, you will see many luxury items from the time, such as tableware, porcelain pieces, and antique furniture. Now, do you understand why they call Trinidad the “Museum City of Cuba”?
Céspedes Park
Céspedes Park or Carillo Square is the best place in Trinidad to see the daily life of the people. There you can observe parents playing with their children, couples sitting on benches, tourists taking photos of the lattice in the central part of the park. Around Céspedes Park are the Church of San Francisco de Paula and the Town Hall.
La Taberna La Canchánchara
Another must-visit spot is La Canchánchara Tavern, where they serve one of the oldest cocktails on the island. Cuban rebels fighting against Spanish colonizers consumed this drink to cope with the cold of the wilderness. They also claimed that during that time, it served as a remedy to alleviate pain and illness. It consisted of sugarcane brandy, lemon juice, and honey. People consumed the drink hot in wooden vessels to endure the cold, relieve sore throats, or clear the chest.
If you visit La Canchánchara Tavern, you will learn that as early as 1736, the landowners in the area consumed the drink in this mansion. The drink had already transitioned from the humblest sectors of the population to being consumed by the wealthiest and most educated families. However, it never lost its status as a symbol of Cuban identity.
Currently, at La Canchánchara Tavern, in addition to this nearly obligatory drink to try, which gives the place its name, they offer sugarcane juice, coconut water, mojitos, and Cuba Libre, all worthy representatives of the island’s mixology. They also feature live music. The place is genuinely pleasant and often crowded with people and artistic objects.
Wandering aimlessly through the old town
Previously, we have suggested a group of iconic sites in the city that, due to their significance, you should visit. However, undoubtedly the best advice we can give you is to wander through the streets of Trinidad without a set route. Take your time to explore each of these sites without a specific order. Enjoy the pastel-colored colonial houses with balconies lining the streets and artisan markets. You will be fascinated to see the everyday life of the locals: a Cuban fixing his vintage car, two elderly ladies leaning on the bars of their windows, the vendor loudly announcing that the “pan criollo” is ready. You might even feel transported to Havana when you see that in Trinidad, too, there is a Bodeguita del Medio and a Floridita.
Conclusions
This article aims to serve as a guide to enhance your experience during your journey through Trinidad. It’s important to note that other commonly visited places during this route include El Valle de los Ingenios, Playa Ancón, and the city of Cienfuegos. If you wish to include all these destinations in your itinerary and, furthermore, have enough time to explore them thoroughly, we emphasize considering the option of reserving at least two days for this enriching experience. For useful tips on these additional destinations, stay tuned for the publication of the second part of this article.
Finally, remember that this guide is just a starting point. Feel free to tailor your experience in Trinidad to your own pace and preferences. If this article proved helpful and you’d like more information and tips about Cuba, explore more of our articles below.
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Hemingway in Cuba: 8 Facts About Hemingway’s Time in Cuba
Visiting Havana: 8 Compelling Reasons to Include it in Your Next Vacation
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