Santa Clara, Provincial capital in central Cuba
Santa Clara is a city in Villa Clara Province in central Cuba, sitting on coral hills around 112 meters above sea level. The street layout spreads outward from Parque Vidal, where colonial buildings, shops and public offices gather.
Families from the coastal town of Remedios founded the settlement in 1689 because they wanted to escape pirate raids. They chose a spot farther inland where the indigenous village of Cubanacán once stood.
The name honors Saint Clare of Assisi, chosen by the original settlers who moved inland from Remedios. Today you can still see the religious origins reflected in the cathedral that faces the main square, where locals gather in the evening and sit on benches beneath the palm trees.
Travelers reach the city through Abel Santamaría Airport or by car, with the drive from Havana taking about four hours. In the center, most places of interest lie within walking distance since many streets cluster close together.
The university in the city has drawn students from across the country and from abroad since it opened in 1952. In some neighborhoods you can hear different accents during the day and see groups of young people carrying books on their way to faculty buildings.
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