If you’ve visited, or are planning on visiting, any of the all-inclusive resorts on Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Las Brujas or Cayo Ensenacho in Cuba’s Cayos de Villa Clara region, you will pass through Remedios. However, the bus that takes you from Abel Santamaria Airport (SNU) in Santa Clara to the islands will mostly bypass the historic city, rather than drive through it.
For first time visitors to the Caribbean island nation, even the more better off communities can be a culture shock. With exception of the main square, or Plaza Mayor, Remedios can really pour on its third world charm. On excursions from the resorts, you will often see Remedios but are taken directly to the renovated Plaza Mayor and not really encouraged to stray.
What follows is an image gallery of some random street scenes in Remedios. We visited while staying at Iberostar Ensenachos. The first image is actually from the main square and the second is the historic Teatro Ruben Martinez Villena. The rest are a glimpse into real life in small town Cuba. For full-size, high resolution versions of any of the photos in the gallery, simply click on the individual pictures.
Remedios, Cuba Image Gallery
Teatro Ruben Martinez Villena
Just off the Plaza Mayor, on the next block from the Iglesia Mayor of San Juan Bautista, is the Teatro Villena. Officially, it’s called the Teatro Ruben Martinez Villena and hosts dance shows, plays and children’s activities.
The theatre was opened in December 8, 1923 and was originally named for Miguel Bru. The name was changed after the revolution to honour poet turned political activist Ruben Martinez Villena. Villena was born December 20, 1899 in Alquizar, la Habana Province. He died in Havana on June 16, 1934 after contracting tuberculosis.
Remedios, Cuba
Originally named Santa Cruz de la Sabana, the full name now is San Juan de los Remedios. The city was founded in 1513, making it the eighth oldest city in Cuba. However, there is some question about the facts and it is speculated that Remedios may, in fact, be the third oldest establishment in the Caribbean country. Regardless, this place has been around for a long time, as far as North America goes.
The city of 50,000 is in the province of Villa Clara and halfway between Santa Clara and the resorts of the Cayos of Villa Clara. Tourists are taken directly to the Plaza Mayor in the centre of town, a spot highlighted by the Iglesia Mayor of San Juan Bautista and its 13 decorated gold altars.
Remedios is a 347 kilometre drive from Havana, via the Autopista Nacional. As the crow flies, that distance is reduced to 299 km. The city is 44 km northeast of Santa Clara and 7.5 km southwest of Caibarien. A steam train can be taken from Caibarien to Remedios and is included in the Sugar Tour excursion. You can see more images of the steam engines in our previous article: Cuba Steam Train.
Internationally, Remedios is 369 km south of Miami, Florida and 2,351 kilometres south of Toronto, Ontario. This means, the Cuban city is about 350 km closer to Toronto than Regina, Saskatchewan.
Overall Cuba is really an exquisite place. So vibrant and refreshing.