Santiago de Cuba - Parque Cespedes

At the heart of the city of Santiago de Cuba is the Parque Cespedes, formerly the Plaza de Armas. A statue of this national hero, Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, stands in the middle of the square. The park is where visitors will find locals conversing and relaxing at any time of the day or evening. Music, either live or recorded, usually fills the air here and the park generally has a lively feeling. It's a great place for people watching.

Parque Cespedes is also a good place to start sightseeing in Santiago de Cuba. Many of the city's best architecture surrounds the square. Some of the buildings here include the Casa de Cultura Miguel Matamoros, the historic Ayuntamiento, the Casa de Diego Velazquez, the Museo de Ambiente Historico Cubano, and the Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Ascuncion.