Page 209 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

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the Oficina del Historiador de la
Ciudad, a body that takes care
of the province’s cultural
heritage. Construction of the
building began in 1728.
Despite its small size, the
Iglesia de San Juan de Dios is
one of the most interesting
churches in Camagüey. It still
has its original floors, ceiling
and wooden choir, and,
most importantly, the high
altar with the Holy Trinity
and an anthropomorphic
representation of the Holy
Ghost, the only one in Cuba. One of the cloisters in the old San Juan de Dios hospital
The church façade is simple
and rigorously symmetrical. E Museo Provincial Ignacio Paciencia, a poem (1608)
The old Hospital was used in Agramonte regarded as the first literary
the 20th century as a military Avenida de los Mártires 2, esq. Ignacio work in Cuba (see p32).
infirmary, then a teacher training Sánchez. Tel (32) 282 425. Open 9am–
school, a refuge for flood victims, 5pm Mon–Thu & Sat, 9am–8pm Fri, Y Parque Casino Campestre
a centre for underprivileged 9am–noon Sun. & 8 Note: fee for The largest natural park in
children and, most recently, photography may apply. any Cuban city, the Casino
as the Instituto Tecnológico The only military building was for a long time used for
de la Salud (Technological in town was the head- agricultural fairs, and became a
Institute of Health). quarters of the Spanish public park in the 19th century.
The square plan army cavalry in the The Hatibonico river flows
with two inner 19th century. In 1905 through it. Besides the many
courtyards (clearly it became a hotel, statues of patriots and illustrious
of mudéjar influence) and since 1948 it figures from Camagüey and
was modelled on has housed a large Cuba, it has a monument to the
Baroque monasteries. museum of the Seville pilots Barberán and
The enclosure walls history, natural Collar, who on 10 June 1933
are thick and plain; history and art made a historic transatlantic
in contrast the of the city and flight from Seville to Camagüey
window grilles its province. in 19 hours 11 minutes.
and wooden The Holy Trinity high altar The prestigious
balustrades in the small art collection Environs
galleries are elegant is second only to that in the The plains north of Camagüey
and elaborate. Museo de Bellas Artes in Havana, are cattle country. Rancho King,
with three works by the famous a former cattle ranch, has a
R Iglesia y Hospital de San Juan Cuban artist Fidelio Ponce. There restaurant and rooms and offers
de Dios is also a fine collection of books, horse-riding trips and rodeos.
Plaza San Juan de Dios. Open 7–11am, including some manuscripts It is most easily accessed from
2:30–4pm Mon–Sat. Closed 1 Jan, by the Canaries writer Silvestre Playa Santa Lucía, 26 miles
1 May, 26 Jul, 25 Dec. & 8 de Balboa, author of Espejo de (16 km) to the north.

Plaza San Juan de Dios, known for its well-preserved colonial architecture

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