Plaza Mayor Plaza Mayor is the main square in Trinidad. The museums and buildings facing it give a more historic ambience to the suspended-in time feel of this city. It’s really worthy to stroll around the crafts markets, relax on the benches in the shade of the palm trees, enjoy a cocktail at a bar, or just take some hours to see the museums.

Museo de Arquitectura Colonial Being the only one of its type in Cuba, the Museum is housed in an 18th-century mansion which belonged to the Sánchez-Iznaga family. It covers the different types of architectural elements seen in Trinidad and illustrates the building techniques used during the Colonial period. There is a collection of instruments, accessories, and building materials used by then. The mansion features a lovely portico with slim columns, a wrought-iron balustrade and wooden beams.

Iglesia Parroquial de la Santísima Trinidad At the top of the Plaza Mayor, stands this austere church with a Neo-Classical façade. Its construction ended in 1892 on the site of a 17th-century church that had been destroyed by a hurricane. Its interior has 4 aisles and a Neo-Gothic Altar devoted to the Virgin of Mercy. However, the most attractive element of the church is a wooden statue made in Spain in the 18th century, the Señor de la Vera Cruz (Lord of the True Cross). The sculpture was made for a church in Veracruz, Mexico, but when travelling the ship was deviated by strong winds to the port of Casilda, 6 km from Trinidad. The captain of the ship decided to leave there most of the cargo, including the statue. People in Trinidad accepted the event with a high degree of devotion. From that time on, the statue has been object of worship.

Palacio Brunet (Museo Romántico) Formerly the residence of the wealthy Borrel family, the Palacio Brunet now houses the Romantic Museum. Many of the objects on display once belonged to the founder of the family; his daughter and wife inherited them, hence the name of the Palace. Most fine objects on display here reveal the 19th-century aristocrats’ customs. The museum’s 14 rooms all face the courtyard gallery with its elegant balustrade. Carrara marble floors, coffered ceilings, Neo-Classical decorations, precious wooden furnishings make the museum an interesting place to visit.

Canchánchara An 18th-century building houses this typical house of infusions. It’s famous for its cocktail of the same name “Canchánchara”, made from rum, lemon, water and honey. Live music is always played here.

Plazuela del Jigüe This square is known for being the place in which Father Bartolomé de las Casas celebrated the first mass in Trinidad in 1514. The name is due to an acacia tree (jigüe) which grows there. EL Jigüe restaurant is in one of those lovely porticoed buildings decorated with panels of painted tiles. A handful of handicrafts stalls are also there.

Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco This former elegant monastery, houses now the Museo de la Lucha contra Bandidos (Muesum of the struggle against Bandits). It was first built by Franciscan monks, taken from them in 1848 to be transformed into a parish church, and transformed in 1895 into a garrison for the Spanish army. In 1920, because of the deplorable state of the monastery, it was demolished. Only the bell tower, current symbol of the city, was left along with adjacent buildings which became a museum in 1983. It illustrates with documents, photographs and exhibits the struggle against the “bandits” (counter-revolutionaries who ran away to the Escambray mountains after 1959).

Palacio Cantero (Museo Histórico Municipal) This early 19-century building is one of the most sumptuous Neo-Classical gems now housing the Historic Museum of the city. It recounts the history of Trinidad through exhibits, maps, and monuments related to different regionally important themes such as the Cantero family, the plantations of the Valle de los Ingenios, the slave trade and the wars of independence. On the top of the building’s tower, there is a vantage point with a commanding view of the historic center.

La Casa de La Trova This place is ideal for listening live music. It stands in the Plazuela de Segarte, surrounded by 18th-century houses.