Santiago & El Cobre Church

by coach & on foot

Departing from the port, you will head south of the city to Castillo del Morro, situated on a promontory at the entrance to the bay of Santiago de Cuba. The fortress was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997, cited as the best preserved and most complete example of Spanish-American military architecture. Here you can explore the museum and take in the impressive views.

Heading back into the city, you will enjoy a sightseeing drive through the main streets of Santiago de Cuba. During your city drive, you will pass San Juan Hill, which was the site of the final land battle of the American/Cuban-Spanish war in 1898. Another more recent historical site you will see is Moncada Barracks, where in 1953 a small band of rebels led by Fidel Castro attempted to storm the encampment – an event that marked the start of the Cuban Revolution.

Leaving the bustling city behind, your journey takes you to the foothills of the Sierra Maestra and the most famous church in the country. The Spanish-style El Cobre Church is perched on top of a hill that overlooks the rest of the village and has red brick domes and cream-coloured towers.

During your visit, you can admire the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Charity, a basilica built in 1926 as a shrine to Our Lady of Charity – the patron saint of Cuba. The shrine is sacred to all Cubans and is visited by hundreds of pilgrims throughout the year, who often lay sunflowers to pay their respects. Be sure to visit the Chapel of Miracles, where you will find many written testimonials of gratitude as well as offerings including sports medals, uniforms and even Ernest Hemingway’s Nobel Peace Prize medal, donated during his time on the island.

Heading back into the city, you will have some free time in the main square of downtown Santiago de Cuba before rejoining your coach for the short transfer back to the ship.