Santa Clara

About

From a small inland settlement, Santa Clara has grown into one of Cuba’s largest and most historically important cities. It was here that Che Guevara led the decisive battle against dictator Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar, winning Cuba for Fidel Castro. One of Che’s boldest actions during the battle was derailing a train of enemy reinforcements, an action now memorialized by a giant statue. After he was executed in Bolivia, Che and 16 of his fallen comrades were brought back to Santa Clara and interred in a mausoleum. Right next to the mausoleum is a museum detailing Che’s life. While Che is a big name here, he’s not the only local hero. Head to the Parque Vidal to see a statue of Marta Abreu, the “benefactress” of the city, and some elegant buildings like the Santa Clara Libre, Teatro La Caridad, and the former city hall. Be sure to visit Calle Independencia for a local shopping experience.