Page 95 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

Central Cuba West ❮❮ 93

Cuba” when artistic life flourished
here during the 19th century. Plaza
de la Libertad and Plaza de la Vigía
are home to the Catedral de San
Carlos and Museo Farmaceútico.
Visit San Severino castle’s slave-
trade museum and, outside town,
Cuevas de Bellamar’s caverns.
Parque Nacional
2
San Severino Castle, Matanzas Ciénaga de Zapata
MAP E3 • National Park Office: Playa
Matanzas
1 Larga; (45) 98 7249; open 8am–
MAP E2 • Museo Farmaceútico: 4:30pm daily; adm includes a guide
Plaza de la Libertad; (45) 24 3179; This vast park is Cuba’s most com-
open 10am–5pm daily; adm • Castillo plete wildlife preserve. Swamp land
de San Severino: Zona Industrial; (45) smothers the region, while man-
28 3259; open 9am–4pm Mon–Sat, groves, reeds, and wet forests also
9am–noon Sun; adm provide varied habitats that support
This historic port town, which evolved more than 200 bird species, such as
as a trading center for sugar and the Cuban pygmy owl and the tiny
slaves, was dubbed the “Athens of zunzuncito (see p53). Manatees swim
in coastal lagoons, where Cuban
AREA MAP OF CENTRAL CUBA WEST crocodiles also lurk, and flamingos
flock to Laguna de las Salinas.
Official guides lead nature-oriented
Cay Cayo Cruzo Cruz
del P del Padreadre tours, and most local inhabitants
CN CN Archipiélago now make a living by renting rooms
A tlantic
Archipiélago
Ma Matanzastanzas Var Varaderoadero A tlantic
de Sabana
de Sabana
Cay Cayo Piedra delo Piedra del O c ean or acting as guides for tourists.
O c ean
Hoyo
Hoyo
Obispo
Juan Juan Cár Cárdenasdenas Colorado CN Corralillo Obispo
Corralillo
Colorado CN
G. Gómez Isabela de
G. Gómez
Isabela de
Máximo
Quintíntín
Sagua
CC CC Máximo Quin Sagua Cayo Cayoss
Gómez
Banderasas
Cabezas Unión
Cabezas Unión Gómez Bander del P del Pajonalajonal
de R de Reyeseyes Jov Jovellanosellanos San José de
San José de
Los Ramosamos
Sagua la
Nueva Pedr Pedroo Los R CN CN Sagua la
Nueva
Cayos de
Grande
Cayos de
Colón
La Isabel
Paz Paz Betanc La Isabel Colón Los Los Cascajal Grande Villa Clara
Betancourtourt
Villa Clara
Cascajal
Cifuentestes
Arabos
MA Arabos Rodr Rodrigoigo Cifuen
MATANZ ASTANZ AS
Encrucijada
La Lanza A1 CS CS Encrucijada
La LanzaA1
Tor Torrienteriente CC CC
VILL A CL AR AA CL AR A
San
Santoto
Jagüey Grande Domingo VILL Caibarién
Jagüey Grande
Caibarién
Domingo
Bahía de
Abel Santamaríaantamaría
Santo A1 A1 Abel S Bahía de
Santo
Buena Vista
Tomás Remedios Buena Vista
Remedios
Tomás
Car Cartagenatagena Santa Clara CN CN
Santa Clara
Aguada de
Aguada de Rodas Jaguajay Museo Oscar María de Rojas, Cardenas
Rodas
Jaguajay
Pasajerosos
Pasajer CS CS Cruc Cruceses Placetas
Cárdenas
Placetas
Zapata Peninsula
CIENFUEGOS
Zapata Peninsula
Par Parque Nacionalque Nacional Play Playaa CIENFUEGOS Potr Potrerilloerillo CC CC CN CN 3
Jaime
Jaime
Jarahueca
Mayajigua
Ciénaga de Zapa Lar Largaga González Manicaraguaagua Báez Báez A1 A1 Jarahueca Mayajigua MAP F2
Ciénaga de Zapata ta
González Manicar
Ber Bermejasmejas Cienfuegos The rather run-down port town of
Cienfuegos
La Salina Pepit Cabaiguán
La Salina
Pepitoo
Cabaiguán
San Felipeelipe
Jagua Tey Tey San F Cárdenas offers some intriguing
Jagua
Cayo Diego Play Playaa
Cayo Diego
SANC TI
Pérez
Pérez Girón Playa Maceo Play Playaa SANC TI attractions. A good starting point
Girón Playa Maceo
SPÍRITUS
Jatibonico
Rancho
Rancho Sier Sierra delra del SPÍRITUS Jatibonico A1 A1 is tiny Parque Colón, where a statue
Sancti
Sancti
Escambrayay
Luna Luna Escambr Spíritus CC CC Majagua of Christopher Columbus stands
Majagua
Spíritus
in front of the 1826 Catedral de la
Banao
CS CS Banao La Ferrolana Concepción Inmaculada. The Museo
La Ferrolana
Trinidad
Trinidad Limones Oscar María de Rojas (see p46)
Limones
Palmeroo
San Pedro
San Pedro La Unión Palmer
La Unión
C aribbean
C aribbean Playa has fascinating displays with
Playa
some artifacts dating back to pre-
Tayabacoa
S ea Tayabacoa 0 kilomet 30 30 Columbian days. Horse-drawn
0 kilometersers
S ea
0 miles
0 miles 30 30 taxi-cabs traverse town.
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