Sights in Caribbean Islands
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Museo del Plata
The Museo del Plata showcases local art, sculpture and paintings. Admission is free.
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A
Iglesia de Santa Elvira
Just east of Parque Central is this tiny colonial-style building resembling a displaced alpine chapel.
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B
Museo Nacional de Historia Natural
An average museum that contains examples of Cuba's flora and fauna, and overlooks Plaza de Armas.
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Museo de Artes Decorativas
The Museo de Artes Decorativas, an 18th-century museum, is packed with period furniture.
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D
La Casona Centro de Arte
Housed in one of Plaza Vieja's most striking buildings (note the sturdy colonial overtones), this gallery/shop has great solo and group shows by up-and-coming Cuban artists.
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E
Folly Oval Cricket Ground
You can watch cricket at the Folly Oval Cricket Ground, on the east side of East Harbour.
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F
Maison Cadet
A key building to look out for is the grand Maison Cadet, with its red-iron ‘witch’s hat'.
reviewed
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Iglesia de San Pedro Apóstol
In the heart of Versalles, this neoclassical church is another Matanzas jewel in need of a makeover.
reviewed
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H
Russian Embassy
In case you were wondering, that huge Stalinist obelisk that dominates the skyline halfway down Av Quinta is the Russian (formerly Soviet) embassy, testament to the days when Castro was best mates with Brezhnev et al.
reviewed
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National Archives
The building behind the Rodney Memorial is the National Archives, with national documents dating back centuries.
reviewed
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Calle Llano
A quintessential local street with cobblestones, wrought-iron balconies and wooden beams reminiscent of Trinidad.
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Fototeca de Cuba
A photo gallery with intriguing exhibits by local and international artists that also serves a more important function as the main photo archive for the City Historian's Office.
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Casa de Italia
Regularly hosting art exhibits in its 1st-floor gallery, this center also doubles as an Italian-language institute.
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J
Parque de los Bomberos
The Matanzas fire brigade still has its headquarters in the 1897 neoclassical Parque de los Bomberos just opposite.
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K
Museo del Tabaco
At Museo de Tabaco you can gawp at various indigenous pipes and idols and buy some splendid smokes.
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L
Iglesia Jesús de Miramar
Despite its modernity, Playa cradles Cuba's second-largest church. The Jesús is an aesthetically pleasing neo-Romanesque structure topped by a giant dome. Built in 1948, it protects Cuba's largest pipe-organ and some unusual modern murals.
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Casa de las Religiones Populares
The Casa de las Religiones Populares has a large, if haphazard, collection of all things Santería.
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Palacio de Justicia
This is another impressive construction on the Plaza de la Vigía opposite the Teatro Sauto, first erected in 1826 and rebuilt between 1908 and 1911.
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O
Poder Popular
The neoclassical Poder Popular is a municipal government building which you can admire from the outside.
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Area Recreativa Real Patillas
A potential stopping place is the Area Recreativa Real Patillas on Hwy 184 to the south at the start of the El Seis trail.
reviewed
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Playa Las Calaveras
Playa Las Calaveras, 800m of beach promoted as 'virgin' by tourist brochures is dotted with massage shacks and drink stands.
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P
Fábrica de Tabacos Manuel Fuente
To see a couple of dozen torcedores (cigar rollers) rolling cigars, visit the Fábrica de Tabacos Manuel Fuente.
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Bob Marley's Former Home
Bob Marley's Former Home is in a depressing slum 'yard' near the Trench Town museum, but only visit with a guide from the TTDA.
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Fisherman's Beach
There's a twee Fisherman's Beach in Salem, east of Runaway Bay, where the occasional sound-system party is staged on the weekend.
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Museo de Arte e Historia de Dorado
The Museo de Arte e Historia de Dorado gives you the rundown on local history and archaeology. Admission is free.
reviewed