Sancti Spíritus City, along with the noted values of its monuments, features the development of choral and trova movements.

The legend of the Sitting

One day a pilgrim requested a shelter in the Iglesia Mayor and re-mained in seclusion in a chapel, just fed with water and bread handed to him through the bottom of a door. After a month and in a stormy night, his food was taken as usual, but surprisingly what re-mained was a carved statue of a seated Christ, still preserved in the Humbleness and Patience Chapel.

On June 4, 1514, from the improvised pulpit made of the thatch and dried leaves of the palm trees, the parish church erected along the bank of the Tuinicú River, the Sevillian priest Fray Bartolomé de las Casas delivered his celebrated Pentecost sermon. This event marked the foundation of the fourth of the seven villages settled by Spain in the island, that of the Holy Spirit (Espíritu Santo) which was trans-ferred to the bank of Yayabo River in 1522. His urban conception responds to the Roman, Arab and medieval European styles, renascent ideas pertaining to the Italian architecture were then added. The first construction erected was the Parroquial Mayor (Main Parish Church), built in 1680. Declared National Monument for being the second oldest church of the country after the Holy Spirit in Havana, its original carved and ornate wood ceiling, it has mural paintings and has two chapels, that of Rosario, Humble-ness and Patience. The bridge on the Yayabo River, also a National Monument, was the main way of communication with other ports as those of Tayabacoa and Tunas de Zaza and with the City of Trinidad. Five monumental Roman-style arcades are distinguished, they are unique in Cuba. The construction was completed in 1831. Also known as "the House of the Hundred Doors," the present Mu-seum of the Colonial Art was the residence of the wealthy family of Valle Iznaga. The house of an eclectic style that dates back 1744, and exhibits a panorama of the Cuban 19th-century decorative arts, including the exponents of the private collection of Javier del Valle Grau, the last owner of the house. On the corner parallel to the Colonial Art Museum is the Public Li-brary, the building exhibits a style belonging to the French Renais-sance, a gold-laminated copula, walls covered by incrustations of gold in relief and a majestic baroque stairs that decorates the vesti-bule. The Teatro Principal (Main Theater) situated by the north bank of Yayabo River was also built by the same master builder of the bridge. Since its construction in 1839, the Theater has presented on stage national and international famed artists and has also operated as a blood bank hospital, a garrison and a center of conspiracy and meetings of the locals who struggled in the 1868 and 1895 freedom wars.

SANTIAGO IS NOT SANTIAGO WITHOUT RAIN The popular fiesta of Santiago in Sancti Spíritus had a religious origin as is often the case in all saint patron parties. Celebrated around July 25, this fiesta is like a Carnival, but impregnated with all the local characteristics. A curious statement made by locals is that it will always rain in this day. Among its typical elements are the farmers’ parrandas, the guateques and the arrolladeras, performed all along the streets of the city in an informal fashion. Competitions measuring dexterity and ability are also held. It is customary during these days that people wear fancy costumes and decorate the streets. The traditional trova is regarded as one of the most genuine features of the local culture and Miguelito Companioni, the author of the famous song "Pensamiento" is among its best performers. The Casa de la Trova (Trova House) is one of the many sites where the minstrel spirit still prevails.

ZAZA LAKE At some 5 km on the south of Sancti Spiritus is the artificial lake named Zaza, the largest of Cuba and the second in Latin America. The five most important rivers of the region feed the lake and the Zaza Hotel was built along its bank. The natural landscape of the surroundings along with the exuberant vegetation and fauna typical of the area, are the delights of those who indulge in a ride along the most interesting points of the lake.

The Crying River

In the 19th century, an Italian that arrived at the Espíritu Santo Vil-lage, built what is now known as Quinta Santa Elena, located along the bank of the Yayabo River. It is said that Elena was an extremely beautiful woman and the Italian loved to see her swimming in the river. He was rich and preserved his money in a wardrobe. On one of the occasions that the river rose, the house was flooded and the wardrobe containing the money was dragged by the current, and the Italian, terrified, tried to save his money and died in the attempt. Elena went to Italy and nothing was heard about her any more.