Sancti Spíritus City was founded in 1514. It was transferred to its present location in 1522. It has 97,522 inhabitants.

WHERE TO GO Parroquial Mayor: One of the most outstanding buildings of the historic center. Yayabo Bridge: Built in 1825, it links with the south of the city. Colonial Art Museum (Plácido No. 74): It preserves very valuable pieces of one of the wealthiest families of the Cuban colonial epoch. Polivalente Museum (Máximo Gómez norte No. 3): It displays samples of the cultural, spiritual, historic and artistic fields of the locality. Natural Sciences Museum (Máximo Gómez sur No. 2): It displays items related to the natural sciences in the province. Serafín Sánchez Museum (Céspedes No. 112): It preserves articles which belonged to this local hero of the independent wars.

Provincial Center of Plastic Arts (Independencia sur No. 35): It has two permanent galleries where the works of the first painter of the city are on display and of those of prestigious plastic artists of the locality. Teatro Principal (Main Theater) at Jesús Menéndez No. 102. Rubén Martínez Villena Provincial Library: It operates in one of the most emblematic buildings of the city.

THE EVENINGS Casa de la Trova (Máximo Gómez sur No. 26, tel: 2 6445): Gatherings and concerts are held where the traditional trova is played and sung. The house of the cultural promotion. (Padre Quintero No. 32).

WHERE TO EAT Quinta Santa Elena (Tel.: 2 9167. Mesón de la Plaza (Tel.: 2 8546.

WHERE TO SLEEP Plaza Hotel (Marcos García, esq. Independencia, Tel: 2 7102/2 6940): Situated in the heart of the old village. It has a specialized restaurant in Cuban and international cuisines. Los Laureles Hotel (km 383, Tel: 2 7016/2 7345): It is located in the outskirts of the city. Zaza Hotel (Tel: 2 7015 /28512): Located in a hunting lodge and a fishing ground by the artificial lake of the same name of the hotel. Rancho Hatuey (Tel: 28315 / 28830): An attractive site in the midst of mountains located at some kilometers away from the heart of the city.