The Cuban central province of Villa Clara is characterized by its diversity and excellent conditions to meet the growing demand from the domestic tourist market.

In that context, the city of Santa Clara, the provincial capital, is a site of legends and history, present in its monuments and centennial buildings marked by 325 years of history.

The city's origin was linked to economic interests, which led to the foundation of the ranch Ciego de Santa Clara in July 1689, which belonged at the time to Antonio Díaz y de Pavia.

As most Cuban cities, Santa Clara was developed around the Arms Square, which was later called, among other names, El Recreo Park and Leoncio Vidal Park at present.

Declared a National Monument in the late 1990, the square is surrounded by important monumental buildings that are reminiscent of Cuba's struggles for independence for more than one century.

It is worth saying that the city's neighborhoods preserve their original names, and around the Leoncio Vidal Park, which is a busy area in the city, are relevant institutions such as the Jose Martí Library, which served as a tribune to Generalissimo Máximo Gómez when he visited Santa Clara in 1899.

Close to the square is the Santa Clara Libre hotel, which was built in 1956 and is the tallest building in the city. The hotel affords a superb view of Santa Clara and is a landmark for tourists who visit the city.

Since 1885, the city has enjoyed the services of La Caridad Theater, built on the area that used to hold the Chapel of La Candelaria, the first temple constructed in the village in 1696 at the initiative of Father Juan de Conyedo.

The city's cultural options are complemented by El Mejunje, a rustic cultural establishment with a bar, Cuban traditional music, shows for children and arts exhibitions by local artists.

A modern Boulevard, with its constant flow of people, is another attraction in Santa Clara, where a memorial was built in homage of Ernesto Che Guevara, known as the Heroic Guerrilla, at the square of the same name.

Excellent beaches, cultural traditions and history go hand in hand with a well-preserved environment in Villa Clara province, where tourists can appreciate the force of nature in the territory.