10 wonderful places in Cuba
Cuba is known not only as the Island of Freedom, but also as an island where there are many indescribably beautiful places that you must definitely see when going on an exciting trip to the Caribbean.
(10 photos in total)
1. Havana Vieja
This quarter represents the old part of Havana. There are more than 900 buildings with the status of historical monuments. The entire municipality of La Abana Vieja is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Old Havana was built over five hundred years, and a variety of architectural styles are intertwined here, united by a unique local flavor. Today, many of the most beautiful buildings have been turned into museums, but there are hotels, restaurants, and boutiques for tourists.
2. Hardines del Rey
The name of this archipelago translates as "Gardens of the King". The chain of its incredibly beautiful islands stretches for 200 km. The Parque Natural El Bagá National Park is located here. The islands of Sayo Coco and Sayo Guillermo have a modern tourist infrastructure, and Sayo Coco is famous for its snow-white sandy beaches and excellent all-inclusive resorts. The island also has an international airport, Jardines del Rey Airport.
3. Zapata Peninsula
The reserve, located on this peninsula, is a giant swamp with an area of 4354.3 sq. km. The fauna and flora of this area is incredibly rich, and many of the species are not found anywhere else on Earth. Zapata swamp has the status of a "wetland of international importance", which was assigned to it by the Ramsar Convention in 1971.
4. Modern Havana
The modern part of Havana, perhaps, is not inferior in originality to the Old Havana. This is the whole motley two-million megalopolis, where there are dilapidated quarters-"barrios" with buildings of the XIX century, and examples of socialist construction of the twentieth century and suburbs, the appearance of which has changed little since the Cuban Revolution. The elite districts of Havana flaunt beautiful buildings in the style of art Deco, modernism and beaux-arts. And from the heavy government buildings of the middle of the last century, the spirit of socialism breathes.
5. Holguin Resort (Holguin)
This resort is also called the "City of Squares". It is one of the most famous Cuban resorts. It was in the province of Holguin, where the resort is located, that Christopher Columbus landed in Cuba in 1492 during his great journey. Today there are many four- and five-star hotels that operate on an all-inclusive system and offer guests a rich entertainment program. The beaches of the Holguin resort are considered one of the most beautiful in Cuba.
6. Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city in Cuba. The city was founded in 1514, and for a long time was the capital of the entire island. Today there are a lot of historical museums in the city, as well as the famous Moncada barracks, which were attacked by a detachment of revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro on July 26, 1953, which was the beginning of the Cuban Revolution.
There are many places in the vicinity of Santiago de Cuba where it is convenient to engage in recreational diving.
7. Baracoa
This Cuban city, founded in 1511, is located on the very shore of the Atlantic Ocean. In the city cathedral there is a wooden cross from the time of Christopher Columbus, so the residents of the city claim that the great navigator landed in Cuba here.
The city is known for its chocolate production, as well as a well-developed tourist infrastructure. Near the city there is the Alexander Humbolt National Park, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
8. Cordillera de Guaniguanico
The calcareous Cordillera de Guaniguanico mountain range begins near Havana and runs through the entire province of Pilar del Rio. The limestone rocks overgrown with pine trees and orchids are called "mogotes" by locals. There are many fantastically beautiful landscapes, rare animals and plants, mysterious caves and fast mountain rivers. The famous waterfalls of Salto del Carbuni and Agabama are also located here. Steep mountain slopes alternate with picturesque valleys covered with tobacco plantations. There is also the village of Valle de Vinales, which has the status of an international historical monument.
9. Trinidad
This city was founded in 1514 by the Spanish conquistador Diego Velasquez. The main construction here began at the turn of the XVIII and XIX centuries, and thanks to the unique location of the city, many old buildings and even paving stones have been perfectly preserved. Since 1988, the entire city has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
10. Kamagway
This long-suffering city, which was also founded in 1514 by Diego Velasquez, has been subjected to pirate raids and devastation countless times throughout its history. As a result, exhausted residents were forced to abandon the original settlements and move the city further inland. Today there are many old buildings and churches preserved here. The famous huge clay jugs "tinahona", designed for storing water, have always been produced here. Today tinahons are the main decoration and symbol of the city.