What to see and do in Santa Clara

What to visit in Santa Clara · historical memory and Parque Vidal

• Sculptural ensemble and Ernesto Che Guevara Memorial
• Armored Train Monument and Museum
• Leoncio Vidal Park

PLACES AND EXPERIENCES

What to do in Santa Clara · historical memory and Parque Vidal

history

Sculptural ensemble and Ernesto Che Guevara Memorial

The plaza, the monument, the museum and the memorial form a complex dedicated to Ernesto Che Guevara in Santa Clara. The visit allows us to know how his career is presented and the memory of the revolutionary events.

Activities for your visit

• Observe the monument and the outside plaza.
• Check access to the museum and memorial space.

Tips for this place

• Please respect the memorial's rules regarding luggage, clothing and photographs.
• The complex is separated from Parque Vidal and requires organizing transportation.

Check access ↗

Check the opening and rules of the museum and memorial. Access to these interiors and the route of the outdoor plaza may have different conditions.

Reference sources and location

• Cuba Travel · Heritage of Santa Clara

indicative location of the place; it does not identify an entrance, trail, meeting point, or accessible route.

Reference coordinates: 22.40222222, -79.97944444.

Wikidata Ernesto Che Guevara Memorial

history

Armored Train Monument and Museum

The carriages and the monumental complex remember the railway action of December 1958 during the battle of Santa Clara. It is a different historical visit from the memorial located at the other end of the center.

Activities for your visit

• Get to know the monumental complex from the authorized areas.
• Visit the carriage exhibitions that are open.

Tips for this place

• Distinguish interior exhibits from exterior space.
• The monument's vehicles and tracks are not a playground or rail service.

Check access ↗

Check at the museum for the entrance and the carriages that can be visited. Guided city tours are separate optional services.

Reference sources and location

• Cuba Travel · Heritage of Santa Clara

indicative location of the place; it does not identify an entrance, trail, meeting point, or accessible route.

Reference coordinates: 22.4098, -79.9603.

Wikidata · Armored Train

culture

Leoncio Vidal Park

Parque Vidal brings together part of the daily and cultural life of Santa Clara. From this central space you can observe historical buildings and organize independent visits to the surrounding institutions.

Activities for your visit

• Walk through the park and observe its nearby architecture.
• Discover the public streets of downtown Santa Clara.

Tips for this place

• Cultural activities depend on local programming.
• Ask directly for tickets to nearby theaters and museums.

Check access ↗

Free access public park. Theaters, museums, music venues and guided tours have their own conditions.

Reference sources and location

• Cuba Travel · Heritage of Santa Clara

indicative location of the place; it does not identify an entrance, trail, meeting point, or accessible route.

Reference coordinates: 22.40691944, -79.96493889.

Wikidata · Vidal Park

A PROPOSAL TO ORGANIZE YOURSELF

2-day itinerary in Santa Clara · historical memory and Parque Vidal

1. Day 1

   Center and Armored Train

   Stroll through Vidal Park and check admission to the museum's carriage exhibits.

2. Day 2

   Che Memorial

   Confirm the opening of the museum and the memorial, and organize your own transfer to the complex.

Tips for visiting Santa Clara · historical memory and Parque Vidal

• The Che Memorial is separated from the core of Parque Vidal.
• Respect the photography and personal belongings rules of each memorial space.

LOCAL FLAVORS

What to eat in Santa Clara · historical memory and Parque Vidal

Ropa vieja, arroz moro, tamales and dishes to share: six specialties of Cuban cuisine. The photos show actual dishes for reference; recipes and ingredient availability vary by location.

Cuba · Creole cuisine

Ropa vieja

Shredded beef, stewed with a sauce of tomato, onion and peppers. It is usually accompanied with rice and other garnishes; The photo shows a homemade preparation, still in the pan.

Reference: CiberCuba Cocina · Recipe by chef Iván

Cuba · Rice with beans

Moros y cristianos

Rice cooked with black beans and their broth, which colors the grain and concentrates the flavor. It is a common combination of the Cuban table; here it is served with pork ribs.

Reference: GOYA · Cuban recipe of moros y cristianos

Cuba · Celebration cuisine

Spit-roasted pork

The pig is slowly roasted on a spit that rotates over the fire. This preparation is associated with gatherings and celebrations; the photograph shows a street celebration in Santiago de Cuba.

Reference: Cuba Travel · Traditions of Pinar del Río

Cuba · Corn wrapped in leaves

Cuban tamales

Seasoned corn dough, wrapped in leaves and cooked until firm. You can have small pieces of pork mixed with the dough. The photo shows tamales open on their leaves in Havana.

Reference: Cuba Travel · Typical Cuban food

Cuba · Fried green plantain

Tostones or chatinos

Green banana slices that are fried, crushed and returned to the oil to become golden brown. They are eaten as a side; In Cuba they are also known as chatinos.

Reference: CiberCuba Cuisine · Chatinos or tostones

Cuba · Sopon to share

Cuban caldosa

Sopon of food, meats and condiments, associated with collective meals and celebrations. Recipes change between homes and regions; This Villa Clara variant incorporates corn and noodles.

Reference: Cuba Travel · The broth of Las Tunas