As the capital of Cuba, Havana is a remarkably vast, sprawling metropolis. The city’s compelling history is reflected in the astonishing diversity of its architecture, its multicultural inhabitants, and its exotic and eclectic cuisine. The Old Town remains a remarkably well-preserved colonial centre. It is characterised by an exquisite hotchpotch of architectural styles, of opulence and decay, socialism and capitalism, the past and the present. Imperial mansions have been converted into modern tenement buildings, government agencies find homes in eighteenth-century convents and the nostalgic classic American cars for which the city is known share Havana’s lively streets with the latest models of BMW and Mercedes. While the UNESCO-funded restoration programme has introduced a modicum of modernity into the city, Havana has managed to retain its wonderfully quirky cultural heritage, its unique character, and its undeniable charm.
Sancti Spiritus, the capital city of the eponymous Cuban province, is one of Cuba's seven original Spanish towns. It's a peaceful little town where bicycles and horse-drawn taxis comprise much of the traffic and where the friendly locals socialise in the central plaza in the evenings. The town is set on the banks of the Yayabo River, and its narrow, winding streets are lined with countless Spanish colonial buildings, many of which have been remarkably well restored. Among the most notable of the city's constructions are the Spanish Baroque style Iglesia Parroquial Mayor, the 1876 Teatro Principal, and the Yayabo Bridge with its medieval roman appearance. Other must-see attractions include the Parque Serafín Sánchez, a large public square in the city centre surrounded by neoclassical buildings and an impressive library, and the nearby Embalse Zaza, Cuba's largest artificial lake.
As previously described
