Cuba, the island state in the Caribbean , has much more to offer than white dream beaches, bright sun and turquoise blue sea. This island captivates people because of its history. If you want to experience historic Cuba, you can hardly avoid a city.

Santa Clara was once an important scene in the struggle of the revolutionaries against the Batista regime. But this city is not only fascinating because of its reference to Che Guevara. Today it is a lively city with old colonial buildings, promenades and vibrant nightlife.

City with an important history

With around 240,000 inhabitants, Santa Clara is the capital of the province of Villa Clara and is very centrally located in the middle of the island. As a national transport hub, it is located on the western edge of the Escambray Mountains. The island’s capital Havana is about 280 kilometers from Santa Clara.

The history of the city began on July 15, 1689. At that time, the settlement of Cayo Nuevo was established, which quickly developed into an important place in Cuba . Later, the rapidly growing city was renamed Santa Clara. As early as the 19th century, it was an important point of the island in terms of transport.

During the time of the Cuban Revolution, Santa Clara played a decisive role. Batista sent an armored train with weapons and more than 300 soldiers to Santa Clara. But the guerrillas under Ernesto Che Guevara attacked the train and destroyed several meters of track with a bulldozer. The train derailed.

The weapons fell into the hands of the guerrilla fighters, the soldiers had to capitulate. Only a few days later, Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos and their men attacked Batista’s soldiers and captured the city of Santa Clara. Shortly afterwards, Batista fled. Today, this event is considered the decisive moment of the triumph of the guerrillas.

Memories of the triumph of the “bearded men”

To this day, the Monumento al Tren Blindado is a witness to these events. The National Monument to the Cuban Revolution was created by José Delarra. Four of the train’s original cars are located in a park next to the tracks and can be visited. The bulldozer has also found a place here.

Historical photos, original weapons and various utensils immerse the visitor in the time of the revolution. They give an excellent picture of what happened at that time and are thus witnesses to an important event in the history of the island.

A very special monument in the west of the city is dedicated to the leader of the guerrillas. Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara presents himself mightily in the form of a six-metre-high bronze statue in the Plaza de la Revolución. Next to the imposing figure of the fighter are reliefs with different scenes of the Cuban guerrilla war.

Che Guevara was executed in Bolivia on October 9, 1967 and secretly buried. It was not until 1997 that his remains were discovered in Vallegrande and exhumed. With a state funeral, the bones were buried in the Monumento Memorial Che Guevara. The mortal remains of about 40 comrades in arms also rest here.

A museum is attached to the monument. Here, visitors can get a precise picture of the revolution and the Comandante. You can see equipment, his uniform, weapons and even his phone. It is hardly surprising that this monument is the most visited attraction on the island.

Cigars and colonial buildings

But Santa Clara is not only famous thanks to Che Guevara. This is where the smoking products for which the island state is known worldwide are produced. The Fábrica de Tabacos Constantino Pérez Carrodegua produces cigars of the brands Montecristo, Romeo y Julia and Partagá. These brands are among the best in Cuba and can be purchased after a guided tour in the small tobacco shop opposite.

A neo-Gothic building inevitably magically attracts the eyes of tourists. The Catedral Santa Clara de Asís was built in 1923 and impresses with its gigantic stained glass windows in the Art Deco style. The white statue of Mary seems almost magical.

From the outside, however, the Teatro la Caridad looks inconspicuous. It is one of the most important playhouses of the colonial era and hides its full beauty inside. The Santa Clara Libre Hotel is also of no interest because of its captivating appearance. Rather, it is the bullet holes of the machine guns, which are still present today, that attract attention.

Like other buildings worth seeing, the house is located around the famous Parque Vidal, the green center of the city. The later it gets, the livelier this city becomes and more and more locals and tourists populate the park. If you are in the mood for nightlife, Santa Clara is the place to be.

A city awakens

It’s not just the streets that come alive in the evening. On the roof terraces of the hotels, the bars open and welcome the night owls. Cabarets and dance performances provide nightly entertainment. Something special among all these clubs and bars is the Centro Cultural El Mejunje. A wide variety of events are offered in this cultural centre. With a lot of luck, you can even experience an extraordinary travesty show or Cuba’s drag queens here.

This makes Santa Clara an absolute must not only for those interested in history during a trip to Cuba. This city will amaze you and you should be careful not to lose your heart to Santa Clara.

Most travelers associate a visit to Cuba with the beautiful capital Havana, which is known from film and television and attracts attention with a long history. But the second largest city on the island, Santiago de Cuba, is not only a great travel destination, but also one of the most interesting regions on the Caribbean island. With the typical colonial architecture that characterizes the city to this day, it is above all an epitome of the first settlers in Cuba. In addition, an impressive cultural self-image and a vibrant nightlife have developed here in recent years.

Insider tip among tourists in Cuba

Although Santiago de Cuba is one of the oldest cities in the country and is the second largest metropolis and at the same time the former capital of the country, it is still considered an insider tip by many tourists and is even completely unknown to many others. This may also be due to the fact that Santiago de Cuba is located far to the east of the island and most holidaymakers tend to stay in the west and around the metropolitan region of Havana. However, this also means that there are many things to discover here that package tourists would probably not experience on a short trip to Cuba in this way.

In general, a trip to Santiago de Cuba is interesting because some of the most beautiful aspects of Cuba can be combined here. On the one hand, there are the historical sights, which give a deep insight into the history of the island and the country, and on the other hand, the picturesque beaches and impressive nature into which the city seems to merge seamlessly. In addition, Santiago de Cuba is also a city culture – Cuban dance started here and spread throughout the city. The entire metropolis exudes a very youthful charm, which I also show in the various artists’ quarters and the nightlife, which could also be interesting for tourists with some highlights.

So if you dare to take the trip to Santiago de Cuba, you have a whole spectrum of possible activities at your disposal and also outside of Havana the right base to immerse yourself deeply in the culture of Cuba. The fact that Santiago de Cuba was one of the nuclei of the former revolution plays a role here.

Discover the most beautiful sights of Santiago de Cuba

Santiago de Cuba can score with a variety of cultural and historical sights. The city’s flagship is clearly the cathedral, which is located in Parque Céspedes, the city’s most central square. With its blue façade, it is not only a visual highlight, but also the official landmark of the city. In general, the many places in the city are worth a trip of their own. In places such as the Plaza de Dolores or Plaza de Marte, there are many monuments and historical features that tell something about the city.

A little outside is the Castillo del Morro. The defensive structure, which was probably completed in 1700, was an important fortress in the Caribbean. Today there is a museum here that deals primarily with the early founding period of Cuba, but also deals with the revolution and its consequences in Cuba – of course with a certain coloring in the historical presentation.

If you want to learn a little more about the city and life in Santiago de Cuba, you should visit the Museo de Ambiente Histórico Cubano in the Casa de Velázquez. It deals primarily with life during the colonial era. On the other side of the city, the Museo Bacardí is located in a beautiful old building, which in turn focuses on the time before the arrival of the Spaniards.

Of course, you should also take a look at the beautiful nature. Playa de Siboney is just the right place if you just want to dive deep into the Caribbean Sea. Then there’s Parque Baconao, with beautiful hiking trails and impressive views of an unspoiled piece of Cuba.

Nightlife and gastronomy – Santiago de Cuba live and breathe

A not inconsiderable part of the fascination of Santiago de Cuba comes from the culture here. The different artists’ quarters offer markets and crafts, and many of the districts have an active nightlife with many great restaurants where you can taste the local cuisine. Especially in the best travel months, December and January, the city seems to wake up with the sunset. So if you want to discover the city with all its facets, you should definitely take the time to wander through the streets once a night.