Sancti Spiritus, the capital of Sancti Spiritus Province, is the oldest inland city in Cuba. Originally founded in 1514 on the Rio Tuinicu, the town was moved to its present site on the Yayabo River in 1522. Unfortunately pirates burned the town to the ground in 1665 and much of the history prior to this was lost, including archives and
architecture. The city flourished in the late 17th and 18th Centuries. Today Sancti Spiritus is a beautiful colonial town with colorful architecture and cobbled streets, many of which are for pedestrians only making it a pleasant place to stroll and sightsee. The area near the old bridge on the westside of the Yayabo River is the oldest portion of the city with small side by side houses painted in a variety of colors. The old city center of Sancti Spiritus is a national monument.
The city is in the process of becoming a tourist center, with more hotels and tourist facilities available. However, it is still not over run or hugely affected by tourism.