Cultural sightseeing in Cuba

The majority of Cuba’s cultural landmarks are located in Havana, the capital of the island country. Besides these sights, tourists enjoy exploring local natural attractions – national parks, the underwater world, and tropical forests. Havana is an interesting combination of different styles and epochs. Modern skyscrapers neighbor with old buildings here, same as cheap cafes with takeout food that is mostly popular with locals can be located close to elegant restaurants with high prices that only tourists can afford.

A beautiful waterfront, beaches with white sand, endless music that lingers in the streets, friendly people, the Floridita bar with the statue of famous writer Ernest Hemingway who was the bar’s regular visitor – this is what Havana looks like. The historic part of the city is big, so it is hard to explore it on foot. You will need a taxi for this purpose. By the way, don’t be surprised if your taxi is a car made in the 20s of the previous century. Local vehicles look unusual for foreign guests. There are many cars produced in the 50s – 70s of the 20th century, such as American Fords, Dodges, Cadillacs, Buicks, and many Soviet cars – the Volga, Moskvich, and Zhiguli. In short, many cars in Cuba are retro ones. When it comes to modern vehicles, it is mostly possible to see Chinese cars.

Old Havana is particularly interesting for tourists. This part of the capital is like one big landmark. There are more than 900 different attractions here. The parliament building of Cuba – the Capitol – is dominating the skyline of the historic city center. The Capitol is 92 meters high and was built in 1929. It looks similar to the Capitol in the United States but Cuba’s Capitol is higher. Nowadays, a museum of history, a library, and several government offices are open in the building. There is the Great Theatre of Havana close to the building. The first buildings appeared in the Capitol district in the 18th century. The waterfront area is significantly older – the first fortifications and buildings in this part of Havana date back to 1519. Paseo del Prado, a popular promenade, leads from the Capitol to the waterfront. This is one of the most vibrant places in the capital of Cuba. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

There is one “must-visit” attraction close to the promenade. This is the Museum of Revolution. Originally, the museum’s building was the president’s residence. The mansion served its purpose for several decades, but it was decided to transform it into a museum after the revolution. Nowadays, the museum exhibits roughly 9 thousand artifacts that reflect not only the revolution’s events but also the history of the island of Cuba starting from the 15th century and to this day. Among the exhibits, there is a life-size figure of Che Guevara and the spacesuit of the first and only Cuban astronaut – Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez.

Tourists can enjoy a panoramic view of Havana from a height of 139 meters above the sea level if they visit the observation platform of the memorial dedicated to one of the most famous Cuban poets and writers, Jose Marti. The tower looks truly colossal. In front of it, visitors will see an 18-meter-tall statue of Jose Marti himself. The architectural complex is located on the Revolution Square that is a national landmark itself. The square has been the typical location of all large demonstrations over the last 5 decades. In 1998, Pope John Paul II made a speech on this square. Pope Francis visited this place in 2015. All tourist agencies organize excursions to the memorial, square, and adjacent memorable places.

There are hundreds of interesting places in the capital, but the rest of the country is also exciting to explore. In the city of Nueva Gerona (approximately 100 kilometers from Havana by sea), tourists can visit a memorial dedicated to the great Cuban cow. The statue was installed in 1984. This is not an exaggeration. That cow was really exceptional – it was producing 100 liters of milk every day while the best milk yield of cows in the neighbor America was no more than 60 liters. The Cuban record-breaker had a name – Umbre Blanka or White Udder, as well as 5 zoologists and farmers who were taking care of it and a guard. Special conditions (water, food, a stable with air conditioning) could even increase the milk yield to 110 liters a day. This is the world record that no cow can break to this day.

Tourists willing to enjoy a walk among the well-preserved buildings of the 18th century can always do this in Trinidad, a small Cuban town. The settlement has a historic center that is pedestrian-only. No cars are allowed here. This incredibly charming place still has the atmosphere of the past – stone-paved streets, colonial architecture, sugar plantations, and houses for slaves. A stroll here is like a journey to the past. The oldest city in Cuba – Baracoa – was established yet in 1511. Not many tourists know about it, but this part of the country has a notable natural attraction that is worth visiting. This is El Yunque. The mountain has a flat top, forming something like a natural observation platform at a height of 589 meters.

Cuba has its own Venice – Matanzas. This city has a great number of bridges. Furthermore, Cuba even has its “Paris”. That is the informal nickname of Cienfuegos, a city with a decent French vibe in architecture, the marvelous view of the Jagua bay, and an art gallery. In the province of Pinar del Río, tourists can see how famous Cuban tobacco is cultivated. When enjoying a vacation in Cuba, tourists are better to keep in mind that Liberty Island is not a rich country. The tourist infrastructure is good, but foreigners should keep an eye on their belongings because there is a risk of theft in public areas. Be careful, follow the recommendations of your embassy, and your vacation will be pleasant and unforgettable.