Page 200 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

198  CUBA REGION B Y REGION

5 Sancti Spíritus P Yayabo Bridge
Its medieval appearance and
The city of Sancti Spíritus, deep in the heart of fertile large terracotta arches make
agricultural countryside, was founded by Diego Velázquez this old bridge unique in Cuba,
on the banks of the Tuinucú river in 1514. It was moved to and for this reason it has been
its present site, near the Yayabo river, eight years later. declared a national monument.
According to one bizarre legend,
In 1586 British pirates set fire to the town along with all in order to make the bridge more
the documents relating to its foundation. The political, robust, the workmen mixed
economic and military centre of the area, Sancti Spíritus cement with goat’s milk.
was embellished with elegant mansions throughout the 17th The Yayabo bridge is an
and 18th centuries. Today, its small, attractive colonial centre important part of the city’s
street network: it is the only
receives few visitors, despite its “national monument” status.
route into town for those
coming from Trinidad.
Exploring Sancti Spíritus
The central part of the city can
be explored on foot in a few
hours. It is pleasant to simply
stroll along the attractively
restored streets (many of which
are for pedestrians only), where
brightly coloured colonial houses
with wrought-iron balconies are
characteristic. The most famous
approach to the town is the
southern one, across the lovely
bridge, built in 1831, over the
Yayabo river. The narrow, quiet
streets leading up from the
bridge to the city centre are The Yayabo Bridge, leading to the colonial centre
the oldest in Sancti Spíritus.
They are paved with irregular in 1876 by public donation and E Museo de Arte Colonial
cobblestones and lined with one- restored in 1980; a large 19th- Calle Plácido 74. Tel (41) 325 455.
storey houses with shingle roofs. century mansion that is now Open 9:30am–5pm Tue–Fri, 2–5pm
Calle Máximo Gómez, which the Pensamiento bar; the Casa Sat, 8am–noon Sun. & 8 Note: fee
leads to the main square, de la Trova, also restored in the for photography may apply.
Parque Serafín Sánchez, is lined eighties; a typical bar-restaurant, This fine building was
with 18th- and 19th-century Mesón de la Plaza; and the constructed in 1720 and
monuments, museums and Placita, a small square with a belonged to the Iznaga family
mansions. These include the statue of Dr Rudesindo Antonio (see p197). It is now an out-
Teatro Principal, a bright blue García Rijo, a physician, scientist standing museum showing
porticoed construction built and illustrious citizen. porcelain, furniture and paintings.

Parque Serafín Sánchez, the main square in Sancti Spiritus
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp261–2 and pp274–5

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