Trinidad, Cuba Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Trinidad

Villa de la Santísima Trinidad

The Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco in Trinidad

Flag	Coat of arms

Trinidad municipality (red) within
Sancti Spíritus Province (yellow) and Cuba

Founded

December 23, 1514

Area

• Total

1,155 km² (446 sq mi)

Elevation

80 m (260 ft)

Population

(2022)

• Total

76,500

• Density

66.23/km² (171.54/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC-5 (EST)

Area code(s)

+53-41

Website

https://trinidad.gob.cu/

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Official name: Trinidad and the Valle de los Ingenios

Type:

Cultural

Criteria:

iv, v

Designated:

1988 (12th session)

Reference #:

460

Region:

Latin America and the Caribbean

Trinidad is a historic town located in the Sancti Spíritus area of central Cuba. It is famous for its beautiful old buildings and rich history.

Since 1988, Trinidad and the nearby Valle de los Ingenios have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is because they were very important centers for the sugar trade in the 1700s and 1800s. Trinidad is one of the best-preserved towns from that time in the Caribbean.

History of Trinidad
Geography of Trinidad
Economy of Trinidad
- Tourism in Trinidad
Culture in Trinidad
- Exploring the Town
- Exploring the Region
Population of Trinidad
Photo gallery
Notable people
See also

History of Trinidad

Trinidad was founded on December 23, 1514. It was first named Villa de la Santísima Trinidad by Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar.

In 1518, Hernán Cortés gathered men for his famous expedition to Mexico from Trinidad. He recruited people like Pedro de Alvarado and his five brothers. Even though orders were given to stop him, Cortés sailed away after ten days.

Another expedition, led by Pánfilo de Narváez, landed in Trinidad in 1527. They were on their way to Florida. A powerful hurricane hit them, causing them to lose two ships, twenty horses, and sixty men.

Geography of Trinidad

The town of Trinidad is divided into three main parts: Primero, Segundo, and Tercero. The larger area around the town includes several smaller communities. These are called consejos populares (wards). Some of these include Centro, Zona Monumento, and Casilda.

Economy of Trinidad

Today, the main industry in Trinidad is processing tobacco. The older parts of the town are very well kept. This is because many tourists visit them.

Tourism is a big part of the city's income. People from all over the world come to see Trinidad's historical sites.

Tourism in Trinidad

Trinidad is located on the Caribbean coast. It is also close to the Escambray Mountains. This makes it a great place for different kinds of tourism.

Culture in Trinidad

Exploring the Town

View of colonial Trinidad

Taxi in the city center

Plaza Mayor

The Plaza Mayor is the main square in Trinidad. It is like an open-air museum of old Spanish buildings. The historic area has streets made of cobblestone. The houses are painted in soft colors and have beautiful iron railings.

Important buildings around the square include the Santísima Trinidad Cathedral and the Convento de San Francisco. You can also visit the Municipal History Museum in town.

Music

Trinidad has several places called casas de musica (music houses). One is right next to the cathedral in Plaza Mayor. There are also discotheques, which are unique. One is in the ruins of an old church. Another is inside a large cave that was once used as a hospital during wartime.

Exploring the Region

Sugar Mills

The Valley of the Sugar Mills, known as Valle de los Ingenios, is also a World Heritage Site. It has about 70 old sugar cane mills. These mills show how important sugar was to the Cuban economy starting in the 1700s.

In the valley, you can find la Torre Iznaga. This is a 45 metres (148 ft) tall tower. It was built in 1816 by Alejo Iznaga Borrell.

Coasts and Beaches

About 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the city is Topes de Collantes. This is one of Cuba's best places for ecotourism. Another fun spot is the Casilda Bay. It is popular for both snorkeling and diving.

A small island nearby has very clean beaches. Ancón Beach, or Playa Ancón, is a white sand beach. It was one of the first new resorts built in Cuba after the 1959 revolution. Along the Ancón Peninsula, there are three hotels: Hotel Costa Sur, Hotel Ancón, and Brisas Trinidad del Mar.

Population of Trinidad

In 2022, the town of Trinidad had a population of 76,500 people. The total area of the municipality is about 1,155 km² (446 sq mi). This means there are about 63.6/km² (165/sq mi) people living in each square kilometer.