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A Journey to Cienfuegos & Trinidad: Cuba's Tourist Friendly Cities. By Habeeb Salloum Continued next page. |
| WAVE Journey.com Women's Adventures, Vacations & Experiences ~ Your Journey Starts Here! |
Founded by Diego Velázquez in 1514, the city
nestles between the overshadowing mountains
and Cuba’s south central coast. From here,
Hermán Cortés recruited many of his soldiers for
the conquest of Mexico and in the ensuing years
it became an important Spanish colonial town. It
was built around a series of squares with narrow
cobblestone streets edged by sumptuous
homes.
nestles between the overshadowing mountains
and Cuba’s south central coast. From here,
Hermán Cortés recruited many of his soldiers for
the conquest of Mexico and in the ensuing years
it became an important Spanish colonial town. It
was built around a series of squares with narrow
cobblestone streets edged by sumptuous
homes.
These were constructed with attractive inner
patios, unique doors, imported Italian marble
floors, charming wood balconies and iron or
wooden window grills. These homes were the
principal reason that UNESCO declared the city a
part of the world’s heritage and it is being
restored under that agency’s auspices.
patios, unique doors, imported Italian marble
floors, charming wood balconies and iron or
wooden window grills. These homes were the
principal reason that UNESCO declared the city a
part of the world’s heritage and it is being
restored under that agency’s auspices.
Trinidad reached the height of its cultural and
economic development between 1750 and 1850.
This flourishing era was based on the wealth
amassed from sugarcane, grown in the
remarkably fertile soil of the nearby Sugar Mill
Valley, which once had 82 sugar mills. Only
traces of these mills and the restored Iznaga or
Manacalznaza Tower, from which overseers used
to watch the slaves, remain.
economic development between 1750 and 1850.
This flourishing era was based on the wealth
amassed from sugarcane, grown in the
remarkably fertile soil of the nearby Sugar Mill
Valley, which once had 82 sugar mills. Only
traces of these mills and the restored Iznaga or
Manacalznaza Tower, from which overseers used
to watch the slaves, remain.
All of Trinidad’s illustrious palaces and churches
were built from the money produced by these
miserably treated slaves. When they were
eventually freed, Trinidad stopped growing and
became literally a museum-town.
were built from the money produced by these
miserably treated slaves. When they were
eventually freed, Trinidad stopped growing and
became literally a museum-town.
We began the tour of town by walking up one of the ancient cobbled streets. Looking
around, I thought that we had stepped back a few centuries in time. On both sides were
venerable houses and palaces. Every door of these centuries-old abodes was different in
size and design. It is said that people used to know who owned the home by these portals.
around, I thought that we had stepped back a few centuries in time. On both sides were
venerable houses and palaces. Every door of these centuries-old abodes was different in
size and design. It is said that people used to know who owned the home by these portals.
Our first stop was the Municipal Museum, whose home is a former palace. After examining its
wide-range of artefacts, we walked on past a large hedge of exquisite flowering
bougainvillaea to the Romantic Museum, housed in the Brunet Palace, located on Plaza Mayor
- the heart of the old town and Cuba’s most elegant square. Its exhibits consisted of
ceramics and furniture utilized by the privileged families in the 17th and 18th centuries. Our
guide remarked that the hand-manufactured wood furniture made in these bygone years,
remains one of Trinidad’s noted handicrafts.
wide-range of artefacts, we walked on past a large hedge of exquisite flowering
bougainvillaea to the Romantic Museum, housed in the Brunet Palace, located on Plaza Mayor
- the heart of the old town and Cuba’s most elegant square. Its exhibits consisted of
ceramics and furniture utilized by the privileged families in the 17th and 18th centuries. Our
guide remarked that the hand-manufactured wood furniture made in these bygone years,
remains one of Trinidad’s noted handicrafts.