Remedios
San Juan de los Remedios
One of Cuba's oldest colonial towns, its main square boasts two churches facing each other, and it is famous for the Parrandas fireworks celebration every Christmas Eve.
Remedios was founded in the early 16th century, about 45 km from Santa Clara. Its tranquil Parque Martí is the only main square in Cuba with two churches facing each other. The Church of St. John the Baptist contains an ornate gilded cedar altar and a gilded ceiling, one of the finest colonial church interiors in Cuba. On December 24 each year, during the Parrandas festival, two neighborhoods of the town compete with giant illuminated floats and all-night fireworks; the festival is inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. At other times, you can visit the Parrandas Museum to learn about this tradition. The town has many guesthouses and serves as a gateway to Cayo Santa María. It is about 1 hour by taxi from Santa Clara.
Opening hours
Open all day; church and museum about 9:00 am–5:00 pm
Nearby sights
- Loma del Capiro
- Monumento a la Toma del Tren Blindado
- Constantino Pérez Carrodegua Cigar Factory
- Museo de Artes Decorativas
- Parque Vidal
- Boulevard Independencia
- Teatro La Caridad
- Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen