Where should we go this week, amigos? What about a historical day trip to the Che Guevara Mausoleum in Santa Clara and some interesting destinations in Cienfuegos?
April is coming soon! It’s always a special month because back in 2018, I took the longest flight ever to Cuba.
If you fly to Cuba just for Havana, trust me, you’ll REGRET it. The country is famous for its history, with Che Guevara Mausoleum as one of the must-visit destinations.
Santa Clara was founded in 1689 by families who were running from pirate threats in coastal Remedios. Besides the memorial place, I’ll also take you to Cienfuegos, a small town about 1 hour from Santa Clara 🙂
Che Guevara Mausoleum, Santa Clara – a Memorial for the Cuban Hero
The Che Guevara Mausoleum is located in Plaza Che Guevara, Santa Clara. I was very excited that the heroic, Cuban icon was buried in a city that shares my name.
The April sky in Cuba was very beautiful, as you can see in the photos. This isn’t the entrance to the mausoleum, it’s a giant wall carved with Che Guevara and 29 of his fellow combatants who were killed in 1967.
Why would the Cuban choose Santa Clara as his final resting place?
It’s to commemorate a victorious day that happened on 31 December 1958 when Che Guevara and his soldiers took over the city from the Cuban dictator, Fulgencio Batista, during the Battle of Santa Clara.
So yes, Clara was very excited to visit Santa Clara!!
Nevertheless, I’m sorry that I could only take you for a virtual tour outside of the mausoleum because we weren’t allowed to take photos starting from the entrance.
There are CCTVs, guards and soldiers everywhere, ready to take action if you misbehave!
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The photos that you see are the monuments… the mausoleum is located behind a giant wall. It’s calming, quiet, and with deemed light. You’re not allowed to speak loudly inside and have to keep your distance.
Rest in peace, Che Guevara and friends…
P.S: I didn’t mean to wear colourful, cheerful clothes to that place but the trip reminded me of someone that got away, who looked a bit like Che. Since my crush loves pink, so I decided to wear pink. Ahem!
Exploring Cienfuegos aka La Perla del Sur
Ok, so here are some interesting things to see in Cienfuegos…
Palacio de Valle
Palacio de Valle is a villa built by an Italian architect. According to my tour guide, some families who have sugar cane plantations in Cienfuegos became extremely rich during the war, including the real owner of the villa.
The owner brought materials from around the world and you’ll see a touch of some countries in the design – Italian, Egyptian, etc.
The villa is very huge, previously, it has its own zoo! Now, it’s an upscale hotel and restaurant.
Did you know?
Parents in Cuba spend a fortune to celebrate their daughter’s 15th birthday. It’s a tradition and some parents are dreading the day!
Teatro Tomás Terry
Next, let me take you to a famous vintage theater, Teatro Tomás Terry in Cienfuegos. It was built between 1887 – 1889 to honour Tomás Terry, a Venezuelan industrialist.
The interior design is very grand and vintage, I couldn’t help to take some photos! Luckily, Robert, mi amigo was there too. He helped me to take some photos ^ ^
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Cienfuegos City Tour
Now, let’s walk around the city of Cienfuegos. ¡Vamos! Let’s go!
He’s a famous Cuban singer & songwriter 🙂
If you’re thinking to visit Cuba when the borders are opened, check out Cuban Adventures. That’s the budget tour group that I used for my 15-day Cuba trip.
This isn’t a paid post but I have a very memorable experience thanks to them, so I don’t mind promoting the company 🙂
Mi amigos, I hope you enjoy reading this blog post. Remember, a trip to Cuba is incomplete without visitting some historical places, like Che Guevara Mausoleum in Santa Clara.
