Things to do in Sancti Spíritus
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Fundación de la Naturaleza y EI Hombre
Replicating its equally diminutive namesake in Miramar, Havana, the Fundación de la Naturaleza y El Hombre on Parque Maceo chronicles the 17,422km canoe odyssey ‘from the Amazon to the Caribbean’ in 1987 led by Cuban writer and Renaissance man Antonio Nuñez Jiménez (1923–98). Some 432 explorers made the journey through 10 countries, from Ecuador to the Bahamas, in the twin dugout canoes Simón Bolívar and Hatuey. The latter measures over 13m and is the collection’s central, prized piece.
reviewed
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Quinta Santa Elena
Quinta Santa Elena ‘Old clothes’ is a name that has never really done justice to Cuba’s famous shredded-beef dinner (ropa vieja). There’s certainly nothing ‘old’ or ‘clothes-like’ about the dish here, or the equally tasty shrimps in red sauce for that matter. While the Mesón has the edge on food, the Santa Elena wins the Oscar for location, set on a charming riverside patio in front of the city’s famous packhorse bridge.
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Parque Serafín Sánchez
Here hundreds of metal chairs host cigar-smoking grandpas and flirty young couples. Your eye will first be drawn to an imposing theaterlike building on the southwest corner that was built in 1929 by the Progress Society and today serves as the Biblioteca Provincial Ruebén Martínez Villena. Sport and coin fans might like the Museo Provincial (Máximo Gómez Norte No 3) on Parque Serafín Sánchez, with its dedicated numismatic and athletic collections.
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Iglesia Parroquial Mayor del Espíritu Santo
The verging-on-decrepit Iglesia Parroquial Mayor del Espíritu Santo, originally constructed of wood in 1522 and rebuilt in stone in 1680, is said to be the oldest church in Cuba still standing on its original foundations (although the clock seems to have given out in recent years). While the interior isn’t particularly interesting, locals are proud of this place and the best time to peek is during Sunday morning Mass.
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Café ARTex
On an upper floor in Parque Serafín Sánchez, this place has more of a nightclub feel than the usual ARTex patio. There’s dancing, live music and karaoke nightly and a Sunday matinee at 2pm (admission CUC$3). Thursday is reggaetón (Cuban hip-hop) night and the cafe also hosts comedy. Good groups to look out for in Sancti Spíritus are the Septeto Espirituanao and the Septeto de Son del Yayabo.
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Uneac
There are friendly nods as you enter, handshakes offered by people you’ve never even met, while the starry-eyed crooner on stage blows kisses to his girlfriend (s) in the audience. Uneac concerts always feel more like family gatherings than organized cultural events and Sancti Spíritus’ is one of the nicest ‘families’ you’ll meet.
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Mesón de la Plaza
The best food in town and the best location. Encased in a 19th-century mansion that once belonged to a rich Spanish tycoon you can tuck in to classic Spanish staples such as potaje de garbanzos (chickpeas with pork) and paella here while appetizing music drifts in from the Casa de la Trova next door.
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Cremería el Kikiri
What, no Coppelia? Kikiri is Sancti Spíritus’ longstanding provincial stand-in. Alternatively, hang around long enough in Parque Serafín Sánchez and a DIY ice-cream man will turn up with his ice-cream maker powered by a washing-machine motor.
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Puente Yayabo
The city's most famous sight is the Puente Yayabo, a quadruple-arched brick bridge built by the Spanish in 1815, now a national monument. The structure actually looks more English than Cuban, especially when glimpsed on the ubiquitous local postcards.
reviewed
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Las Arcadas
Based at Hotel Plaza, Las Arcadas restaurant is another place where the refined colonial surroundings seem to add taste layers to the all-too-familiar comida criolla (Creole food) dishes. There’s good coffee, too.
reviewed
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Casa del Joven Creador
Instead of hanging around on street corners peddling dodgy substances, Sancti Spíritus’ youth head to this happening cultural venue near the Museo Casa Natal de Serafín Sánchez for rock and rap concerts.
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Galería de Arte
The Galería de Arte, next to the agropecuario (vegetable market; enter via Independencia Sur), houses numerous works by local painter Oscar Fernández Morera (1890–1946).
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Museo Provincial
Sport and coins make improbable bedfellows in the obligatory Museo Provincial on Parque Serafín Sánchez, which might appeal to numismatically minded baseball fanatics, but few others.
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Museo de Arte Colonial
The Museo de Arte Colonial has 19th-century furniture and decorations displayed in an imposing 17th-century building that once belonged to the sugar-rich Valle-Iznaga family.
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Casa de Comisiones
Serious retro freaks will love this combination of pawn shop and flea market, a riot of prerevolutionary cameras, vintage jewelry, and stuff your Grandma never got around to throwing out.
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Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad
The handsome old Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad is the city’s second church whose internal arches are a favored nesting spot for Cuban sparrows.
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Museo de Ciencias Naturales
The Museo de Ciencias Naturales, off Parque Serafín Sánchez, has a stuffed crocodile that will scare your three-year-old and some shiny rock collections.
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Street Stalls
Anything you might need - from batteries to frying pans - is sold in street stalls along the pedestrian mall on Independencia Sur which recently got a bit of a facelift.
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Mercado agropecuario
Cuba’s most centrally located agropecuario is situated just off the main shopping boulevard. Stick your head in and see how the Cubans shop.
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Museo Casa Natal de Serafín Sánchez
Birthplace of Serafín Sánchez - a local patriot who participated in both wars of independence and went down fighting in November 1896.
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Ice-cream Stall
Stand around long enough in Parque Serafín Sánchez and the ice-cream man will turn up with his Mr Whippy-style ice cream-maker.
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Casa de la Trova Miguel Companioni
Kicking folk-music venue off Plaza Honorato on a par with Trinidad. But here the crowds are 90% local and 10% tourist.
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Teatro Principal
This landmark architectural icon next to the Puente Yayabo has weekend matinees (at 10am) with kids’ theater.
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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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Pizza Stalls
There are a few street stalls knocking out peso pizza along Av de los Mártires beside Parque de Diversiones.
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