Havana
The
best thing about Havana is
the city itself - its architecture,
streets and famous promenades.
Especially famed is the historical
centre of the city that was
declared part of the world's
cultural heritage. This vibrant
city is a scientific and cultural
centre. Within its 47 km of
coastline, you will find 20
km of beaches as well as places
to go diving and deep-sea
fishing.
Cienfuegos
The city of Cienfuegos lies
on Cienfuegos bay, at the
entrance to the Caribbean
sea. Over a long period of
time it was used by pirates
as a strategically favorable
place for attacking Spanish
ships. (Only) In the mid 18th
century the Spanish built
a fortress there, and only
then did they manage to gain
control over the area. The
sugar industry used to be
the main source of wealth
in Cienfuegos. That is how
most of the pompous houses
of the sugar barons were financed
and built at the end of the
19th century. You can still
admire these buildings, for
example Palacio del Valle,
from which you can enjoy breathtaking
view of Jagua bay. Cienfuegos
is also an ideal starting
point for excursions to numerous
interesting sites - Hanabanilla
reservoir in the Escambray
mountain range or the Jardín
Botánico Soledad botanical
garden, which is situated
on 90 acres of land, 25 km away
from the city.
Trinidad
This city is considered
to be one of Cuba's main
attractions. The traffic
free, colonial district
with its colourful houses
and old, massive cobblestone
crowns the rest of the city
as its highest point. You
can admire interesting details
of colonial architecture
when walking through the
streets around Plaza Mayor.
Especially famous are the
high windows with their
skilfully carved wooden
bars that were replaced
last century by iron bars.
These so-called rejas invite
the energetic street life
into the house, rather than
excluding it. Around Plaza
Mayor, the most elegant
square in Cuba, stand the
city palaces of Trinidad's
richest families: Iznagas,
Ortiz and Brunete, whose
palaces are nowadays museums.
Varadero
Varadero
is one of the most beautiful
and, at 20 km, the longest
beach in Cuba. The water remains
pleasantly warm all year round
- 24 to 29°C. It is easy to
find your way around this
long peninsula. The main street,
Avenida Primera, crosses Varadero
at an intermediate height
up until the hotel Varadero
Internacional. The parallel
Autopista runs across the
southern part of the peninsula
almost to its end. There are
several restaurants, bars,
clubs and shopping options
in Varadero. On the beach
you are invited into numerous
cafes, bars and grill-restaurants,
which serve grilled prawns,
lobsters or chicken. If you
haven't had your fill of fun,
then loosen up at one of the
numerous cabarets and dance
bars or at the Cueva del Pirata
disco, which used to be a
pirate bar. Hotels also offer
diverse entertainment options.
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