San Cristobal and Christopher Columbus

San Cristobal is the namesake of Christopher Columbus and the capital of Cuba - Havana. When it seems to you that you know enough about the country, go to San Cristobal and make sure that it is not.

San cristobal

This municipality and city is located in the province of Artemisa, not far from the autopista Este-Oeste motorway leading from Havana to Pinar del Rio, so if you plan to travel around Cuba, be sure to visit San Cristobal.

This is a very atmospheric town. It is small but comfortable. Here everything is without fuss, kindly and at home. After half an hour, you begin to feel like a local. It seems as if you have known everyone for a long time: people greet each other, greeting even those they see for the first time.

There are very few cars in San Cristobal. So little that motorists cheerfully honk each other when meeting on the roads. Basically, everyone rides bicycles or mopeds. Tourists prefer to travel in horse or bicycle carts, there are a lot of them.

It was as if the whole city had just been painted with watercolors - everywhere there were small, mostly one-story, colonial houses of pastel colors: pale pink, light pistachio, sky blue, pale purple. Look at such colors is very nice. On the terraces of the houses you often see swarthy Cubans reading newspapers, smoking cigars, listening to music or drinking something from glass goblets. The rhythm of the city is very unhurried, which is only a plus after the noisy and bustling neighboring cities.

San Cristobal is located in a beautiful and picturesque place: nearby are the magnificent Sierra del Rosario mountains, mangroves, orchards, a large reservoir, several small rivers, fragrant coffee plantations and huge sugar and grape valleys. Once here, be sure to try the local wine Bodegas San Cristóbal Fantinel winery, it is becoming very popular in Cuba.

What to see in San Cristobal

Perhaps the most important attraction is the Church of St. Christopher (Iglesia San Cristóbal). This small old church with a bell tower is the main decoration of the city. Next to it is the San Cristobal Park (Parque San Cristóbal), where you can sit and remember another temple, named after St. Christopher. Of course, you saw him in Havana, this is the Cathedral of St. Christopher (Catedral de San Cristóbal de La Havana), considered a national treasure and one of the most beautiful buildings in Latin America. Sitting in this green park and watching parishioners, one involuntarily wonders how closely everything is connected in Cuba and how two completely different cities can be so similar.

Address: Iglesia San Cristóbal y Parque San Cristóbal, CC Maceo, San Cristóbal

You can learn more about the city and its history at the San Cristobal City Museum. Look inside and slowly inspect everything. The exposition contains old documents, photos, coins and objects of decorative art. If you ask the caretakers, they will tell a lot of interesting things.

Address: 116, Calle Maceo, e / Capitán Reyes y Rafael Peña, San Cristóbal

San Cristobal is a rather sporty city: there is the La Bombonera football stadium and a rather large outdoor city pool. By the way, “Bombonera” is the main stadium of the Artemis province at the National Champion, so grab the ball, maybe you can play.

Address: El estadio La bombonera y Piscina Municipal La Bombonera, Carr. Central de Cuba, San Cristóbal

Not far from the stadium and the pool you will see the modern clinical hospital "Comandante Pinares" (Hospital Comandante Pinares), it serves the entire west of the province.

Address: Hospital Comandante Pinares, Carr. Central de Cuba, San Cristóbal