SANTIAGO DE CUBA, CUBA

Covering scarcely two and half square kilometers, some 267 hectares, lies Old Santiago, so named for its architectural splendor.

In Old Santiago, one of the most attractive places is Parque Céspedes, a welcoming park where Santiago's citizens go to seek relief from the harsh and hot climate of the urban centre. The old elm trees provide the square with plenty of shade and fresh air throughout the day.

The Santa Basílica Metropolitana Iglesia Catedral is the most important architectural monument in Old Santiago. At each side of the main door to the temple, stand two statues: one of the great Christopher Columbus, and the other of Fray Bartolomé de las Casas. Inside it is richly decorated with eclectic influences; it has a rich and remarkably interesting archdiocesan museum, where the oldest painting in the island, Ecce Homo, is to be found and admired.

The street with the most historical attractions in Old Santiago is undoubtedly Calle Heredia. Six long blocks, from Calle Calvario to Calle Padre Pico, full of samples of great architectural value, and which, today, hosts a considerable... more

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