Trinidad

About

Trinidad was founded by Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar in 1514 as the Spanish crown’s third village in Cuba. Through the 18th and 19th centuries it was an important center for the sugar trade, and even today, its economy still relies on agriculture, though of a more combustible leafy variety. You’ll want to start your visit at the Plaza Mayor, the heart of the city and where the restoration that earned Trinidad its UNESCO status began. Here, you’ll find not just the obligatory church, but also colonial mansions (there are 50 around town!) that have been transformed into museums. Then set off down the cobbled streets, where colorful houses offer plenty of photo opportunities. Just a few blocks from the Plaza Mayor, the Palacio Cantero is now home to the Municipal History Museum, displaying Cuba's finest collection of colonial furniture.