Sancti Spiritus

Discover the authentic Cuba in Sancti Spiritus, a colonial city full of charm and tradition

Exploring Sancti Spiritus

Sancti Spiritus Cuba, is a province that conserves in its cities a genuine colonial atmosphere, where the Sun when it starts to walk by its streets allows to know great part of its history, including the well-being or the poverty of the groups and social classes that inhabited them. Its historic urban center was declared a National Monument on October 10, 1978.

History

In 1514, in areas close to the Tuinucú River, the Villa de Sancti Spiritus Cuba was founded by Don Diego de Velázquez, which began to be moved six years later to the banks of the Yayabo River, where it still remains, about 6 or 8 km from the previous location and whose final location is carried out around 1522.

By R.O. of May 12, 1867 it was granted the title of City. When on June 9, 1878, by Royal Decree, the Island was divided into six provinces, the town became part of the province of Santa Clara, which eventually changed this name to Las Villas. Law 1304 of July 3, 1976, by dividing the former province of Las Villas into three parts, creates the current province of Sancti Spíritus Cuba.

In 1586 the village of Sancti Spiritus Cuba was invaded, disappearing the primitive ecclesiastical file, the chapter books and all the official documentation, without remaining a matrix writing, neither the book of seat of grants of Hatos and Corrales, nor the distribution of Indians. In 1829 the vicar Don Gregorio Quintero founded the hospital for women of S. Francisco in the house bequeathed for a charity work in 1823.

In 1832 the Town Hall founded the first public school, its direction being entrusted to the Presbyter Ortigueira. Attacks of corsairs and pirates who were victims of the villas Sancti Spíritus and Trinidad between 1660 and 1688 and the burning of important buildings.

The uprising of the patriot Serafín Sánchez, on 6 February 1869, responding to the call of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes in the Ten Years’ War. Taking of the Jíbaro, in April 1896 during the War of 95. Participation of spirits in the attack on the Moncada Barracks and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes. Acquisition of the city of Sancti Spíritus on December 23, 1858 by Armando Acosta.

When the Cuban Revolution triumphed, the territory witnessed the Literacy Campaign deployed throughout the country. Participation in the struggle against bandits.

Main Sights

Many believe that the tourist attractions in Cuba are based only on its wonderful beaches, however, this great island is much more than a beautiful beach, it is a region in which the visitor is offered a different story from the rest of Latin American countries and that makes it a destination worth visiting. If we talk about interesting stories, the city of Sancti Spiritus should be mentioned without a doubt.

The town in question is located in the central region of Cuba, traveling to Sancti Spiritus will be easy from the adjacent areas. When you get there you may wonder what to do, because that’s what we want to talk about in this article. Sancti Spiritus Cuba is an unfurgettable place to visit.

In Sancti Spiritus Cuba the possibilities are numerous, if one takes into account that it is a peaceful town in which its historical wealth is everything. Those who dare to immerse themselves in the stories shared there by the locals will depart loaded with new knowledge and understanding the true Cuban spirit, the one that refers to an ancient, struggling and clearly joyful people.

Sancti Spiritus Cuba is the capital city of the province of the same name, neighbor of other important provinces, such as Trinidad for example. In its historical center it will be possible to enjoy the landscape offered by the variety of buildings that have been built there, some older than others, the most emblematic constructions are: Major Parish Church, the Main Theater and the bridge over the Yayabo River, which deserves a separate chapter.

The famous bridge over the Yayabo River at Sancti Spiritus

The arched stone bridge, unique in Cuba, is responsible for joining the banks of the Yayabo River, belongs to the Cuban colonial era and has been declared a National Monument, thanks to its virtues that make it a place that must be visited within the tour by Sancti Spiritus.

The nature also protagonist in the city

If we speak of tourist places in Sancti Spiritus Cuba, the numerous green spaces and its varied vegetation deserve a distinction, this turns the city into something more than a simple destination with historical attractions, to be understood in this way, as an extremely complete region both for the adventurous souls who dare to go on an excursion to the open air, as well as for those who wish to know a little more about the roots of Cuban culture.

Caguanes National Park a close neighbor of Sancti Spiritus

The recently named Biosphere Reserve, according to UNESCO, ie the Caguanes National Park is a neighboring region of the city that stars in this article, both destinations are in the same province, but the first is a natural habitat for different species of flora and fauna that undoubtedly deserves the distinction it has obtained.