Remedios
Fifty minutes to the Northwest of Santa Clara, out of the beaten path and forgotten by tour operators, Remedios is one of the oldest towns in Cuba, and the colonial architecture dominates this peaceful town. Remedios was declared a National Monument town, where you can find 17th. Century buidings still intact. Plaza Mayor square is surrounded by colonial buildings, beautiful monuments, trees, palms and a gazebo, following the Spanish urban standard. The main attraction of the square is the colonial grand church "Iglesia Mayor" of San Juan Bautista containing 13 beautifully decorated gold altars. Remedios is distinguished for its Christmas festival, "Las Parrandas de Remedios", a popular event of the region that takes place in December every year, when the town splits in two to compete for the most lavish fireworks and floats display possible. A convenient way to visit Remedios is as a stop-over on the way to the beach places in the Northern coast, although it is well worth visiting as a day excursion, to have the time to visit the grand church, spend time in the square, walk around the cobblestone streets in the surrounding areas and perhaps visit the Caturla Museum, the house of one of the finest Cuban composers from the 20th Century, with beautiful period furniture, colonial architecture and original music sheets with Caturla's compositions. Easy Day Trip.