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• Travel and Tourism
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• 02 / 10 / 2009

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The coffee shop El Louvre, opened over a century ago and considered among Cuba’s oldest establishments specializing in light meals and snacks, constitutes an important tourist attraction. The Museum of Music, housed in what used to be the house of renowned Cuban composer Alejandro García Caturla (1906-1940) and a Statue of Liberty also attract visitors from around the world.

Founded 493 years ago, the old part of the town of Remedios was declared a National Monument in 1980. The many buildings there feature a Spanish-colonial architectural style and speak very eloquently about the development of the sugar industry in the 19th century.

The Mascotte hotel, currently being refurbished to make it more attractive and comfortable, was built before 1850 across from the José Martí Square. It preserves a marked 19th century colonial architecture.

With its countless stories of pirates and güijes, Remedios attracts foreign tourists, due to its location, just 37 miles (60 km.) away from Cayo Santa María -- a tiny key just eight miles (13 km.) long and a little over a mile wide, which is regarded as an excellent spot to practice scuba diving.

Together with all the other keys located northeast of Villa Clara province, among them Cayo Ensenacho and Cayo Las Brujas, Cayo Santa María constitutes a growing tourist destination.

Along with all the major Cuban cities of Havana, Trinidad, Bayamo, Cienfuegos, Camagüey, Santiago de Cuba and Baracoa, Remedios will be promoted as a main tourist destination during the International Tourism Fair FITCuba 2009, set for May.

(Cubarte)