The old town of Trinidad, Cuba

*WS 164 – The old town of Trinidad, Cuba*

Trinidad is a coastal town in central Cuba with 72,000 people. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a showcase of Spanish colonial architecture: cobble-stone streets, wrought-iron grilles, colourful walls. Donkey carts are the main mode of transport for the locals. We visited the town in 2013. 

Just off the town is the Valley of the Sugar Mills, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It once had over 50 sugar mills with over 30,000 slaves working in the plantations and the mills. It shows the importance of the sugar industry in Cuban economy from the late 18th to late 19th century. 

None of the mills are in operation now. We visited the Manaca Iznaga Estate where the owner’s mansion has been converted into a restaurant, 6th photo. The impressive 45 m tall bell tower was still in good condition structurally. It was used to announce time over the valley in those hey days. The last photo shows an old sugarcane press.