OUR SUGGESTED CASAS
Colonials & neo-colonials	12
Modernas & apartments	12

The city holds a special place in the heart of the descendants of barbubos (the bearded ones) as it was here that the famous attack on Batista's armoured train sealed the fate of the Revolución in the last days of 1958.

One can find here all of the mementos of this passage in the recent Cuban history (Monument to Martyrs, Memorial to the Che, Museum of the Tren blindado).

Today, the peaceful city's stable economy with its many light industries in the area is maintaining a high job quota and gives a sense of comfort, to visitors and foreign students joigning Cubans who have chosen one of the 22 Faculties of Universidad Marta Abreu to make up the local student population of 27,000 estudiantes. Recent proof : opening on main square of a huge (by Cuban standards) Home Depot-like appliance and construction material store.

The pedestrian bulevar shows off many hard-to-find products in its renovated tiendas. Its large fruit & vegetable market by the estadio de beisbol estadio also bears proof of a refreshing livelyhood.

The large and welcoming Parque Vidal will soon boast the largest store in Cuba along with a soon to be renovated Teatro de la Caridad and one of the loveliest museums on the island, Museo de Artes Decorativas.

Culture is expressed seemingly more freely, daily, publicly (and "gaily"), away from the habitual self-censorship in places like El Mejunje, La Marquesina and El Carishow unique show venues. Carpe Diem !

A mere 63 kilometers north by way of Remedios and Caibarien is the Cayeria Norte (the northern keys) with Cayo Santa Maria and some great beaches and all-inclusive resorts.

DISTANCES Caibarien, 56 Camaguey, 269 Camajuani, 30 Cayo Ensenachos, 105 Cayo Las Brujas, 99 Cayo Santa Maria, 109 Cienfuegos, 61 Elguea (baños), 130 Hanabanilla (lac, chutes),67 Holguin, 477 La Habana Vieja, 292 Manicaragua, 45 Pinar del Rio, 399 Remedios, 46 Sagua la Grande, 54 Santiago, 616 Sancti Spiritus, 85 Topes de Collantes, 86 Trinidad, 106

 

MAPS & LINKS

Map - City centro, attractions and casa locations

Map - Architectural & Landscape Guide

Map - City centro, around Parque Vidal + casas

Map - Ciudad, all repartos (burroughs)

Map - The city area with roads in and out

Map - Santa Clara, North Coast, Cayo Santa Maria

Map - Cuba's three center provinces

Map - Cienfuegos to Caibarien and small towns

Viazul busses Ruta 16 ::: Ruta 24 ::: Ruta 26

Island-wide bus connections (horariodebuses)

Train schedule for national routes

Googlemaps Weather forecasts

"How the Cia got away with murder" (again)

CUC (Cuban Convertibles Pesos) to any currency

All that's natural in Villa Clara province

All the Web particuba.net

POPULATION 238,028 (2007)

SEE • DO • KNOW
• Parque Leoncio Vidal (heart of the ciudad, Biblioteca, Teatro, Ciné, Museos)
• Plaza del Carmen (a few blocks in straight line from Vidal Park : first mass in its Iglesia in 1689)
• Museo de Artes Decorativas (one of best run in Cuba : Empire, Baccarat, Art nouveau, Art déco)
• Teatro de la Caridad (marvel built in 1885, ceilings, history, stage instruments) reopened after major overhaul in July 2009
• Facing the city's only Casa del Tabaco — House of Cigars —, is the Fabrica de Tabacos Constantino Perez (Montecristo no 2, Partagas Grande, etc. Visits 9h30-13h only, 4cuc Tkts sold only at Cubatur on calle Marta Abreu, Spanish only commentary.)
• Galeria de Arte on Maximo Gomez by the Parque Vidal (showings by famous artists, one of must-see galeries of Cuba)
• Monumento a la Toma del Tren Blindado (5 mins. on foot from Parque Vidal : four train cars and the famous bulldozer)
• Loma del Capiro (Capiro Hill for views of thae valley like the Che had in 58)
• About 1,5 km from town centre, the vast museum plaza including Mausoleo de los Martires de la Revolucion as part of Plaza de la Revolucion which includes Memorial Ernesto Che (Cubano, Hermano, Ejemplo) Guevara a small museum (free entrance, no cameras) with well documented and presented artefacts of the barbudo.

RESTAURANTS
• Aldaba calle Luis Estévez # 61 e/ Independencia (El bulevar pedestrian street) y Martí - on the roof of casa particular Autentica Pergola. • El Alba (pesos cubanos) : popular, al ways full, fish dishes; calle Pardo, corner Maceo • La Concha on the way to Che Memorial, for pizza : Carretera corner Danielito • El Dorado (cheap chicken, shows at night; right by : • Pizzeria Pullman in pesos) • El Bulevar (multiple choices, student hangout) • Sabor Latino de Alfonso y Familia (10-12cuc, full meals : excellent)

SERVICES
Swimming pool at Villa La Granjita, on Carretera de Maleza, towards the airport 2,5km from center. 5cuc per person including a 3cuc drink. Havanautos 20-89-28, Medical 27-12-34, Transautos 20-58-95

WI-FI ZOMBIE ZONES
In every single park or plaza. Get the wi-fi scratch cards (1cuc/hour) at the Telepunto (Etecsa) office on Martha Abreu, corner Villuendas.

TRAINS TO/FROM HAVANA*
2024 Schedule Havana Le Coubre Estacion every 4th day (with luck) — like (some) times a week — at 16H15 the earliest arr here 21h30 via Matanzas; also from Santa Clara to Santiago, a 12-hour or 18-hour ordeal trip. *using new Chinese-built stock. Sked here.
 

Returns from here to Havana Central Estación are all middle of the night except dep. 18h25 arr 03h15

Map - Architectural & Landscape Guide : 36 places


Parque Vidal, as seen from Museo de Artes Decorativos © sogestour •}• Facade of El Mejunje, where lads, trans & gents gather on Saturday nights © sogestour — see Evenings below.


The glorieta, smack in center of Cuba's most enjoyable city park, Parque Vidal © castaneda, panoramio •}• On el bulevar, an old hotel used for no-cost public housing © sogestour


Puentes de luz para Santa Clara, de Yunia Fleites, fotógrafa, artista popular, investigadora y promotora cultural © yunia fleites •}• El Bulevar (pedestrian) shows off an unusual — for Cuba — variety of products © lezum, panoramio


Universidad Marta Abreu founded in 1952 : 27,000 students of Science, whether Human, Agricultural, Computer or otherwise taught by 1,100 teachers (more than 50% Masters or Doctors), 22 Faculties and muchos estudiantes from abroad. Site. © MissMass, flickr.com •}• Dictator Batista's Tren blindado after Che and his men blew up the track on 28 Dec 1958 sealing the triumph of the Revolucion.


The pedestrian street, El bulevar brings together the comercial and artisan, ancient and modern, cup, euros or cash $ © sogestour •}• Que sean como el Che. Enlarge. © sogestour


Pelea de Gallos translates to Cockfight as painted by Cuban artista Yakira Gonzalez •}• Tren blindado attack by Che and his guerrilleros became legend when turned into a comic-book like album with collectible stamps. © sogestour


Plaza del Carmen where these sculptures intrigue pedestrians. Nearby casa owners Zaida, Olga and José Ramon offer good lodging © hommel flickr


The original quote was "…Déjenme decirles, a riesgo de parecer ridículo, que el revolucionario verdadero está guiado por grandes sentimientos de amor… "

MAUSOLEUM TO THE MARTYRS OF THE REVOLUCION

About 1,5 km from town centre, the vast museum plaza includes Memorial Ernesto Che (Cubano, Hermano, Ejemplo) Guevara an air-conditioned museum (free entrance, no cameras allowed) with well documented and presented artefacts of Cuba's second most famous barbudo. Above, in March 2013, a group of blind people being led through the facilities © sogestour

FLORIDA TERRACE
FLORIDA CENTRO + PALADAR
Six ac bedrooms (4 new), ensuites, terrace
Maestra Nicolasa (Candelaria) 56, e/Colon y Maceo, 200 meters from Parque Vidal. Tel. (42) 20-81-61 Florida Terrace (42) 22-1580


 

HOSTAL ALBA
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuites, patio
E. Machado (San Cristobal) 7, e/Cuba y Colon, two blocks from Parque Vidal, one from Florida Center. Tel. (42) 29-41-08


 

HECTOR MARTINEZ
Two large ac bedrooms, ensuites, lovely patio
Rolando Pardo (Buen Viaje) 8, e/ Parque Vidal y Maceo, 20m from Parque Vidal Tel. (42) 21-74-63


 

AUTENTICA PERGOLA + PALADAR
Ground ac bedrooms, ensuites, roof paladar
Luis Estévez 61, e/ Independencia (pedestrian street) y Martí, steps from Parque Vidal. Tel. (42) 20-86-86


 

APARTAMENTOS & MODERNAS

NELSON
Two ac bedrooms, ensuites
Independencia 265 (Este), Apto. 1 on ground floor, e/Union (Pedro Estévez) y San Isidro, four blocks from Parque Vidal. Tel. (42) 20-20-64 or 20-29-44


 

EVA y ERNESTO
Independent apart with one or two bedrooms
Calle J. B. Zayas No. 253-A, entre Berenguer (San Mateo) y Padre Tuduri (E. Yanes), couple o'blocks from Parque Vidal. Tel. (42) 20-40-76


 

ISIDRO y MARTA
Two air-con bedrooms, each with ensuite
Calle Maestra Nicolasa (Candelaria) # 74, entre Colon y Maceo, some 200m from Parque Vidal. Tél. (42) 20-38-13


 

ANA V
Modern two-bedroom apartment, ensuites
Calle Serafin Garcia (Nazareno) 74 e/ B. Martinez y Maceo, three blocks from Parque Pastora Tel. (42) 29-27-52 whatsapp +5353347470

HOSTAL CUBA 215 V
Two ac bedrooms, ensuites, spacious terrace
Calle Cuba 215, e/Sindico y Pastora facing Parque Pastora and Santisima de Buen Pastora church. Tel (42) 27-1118 whatsapp +5352905521