Roberto Gonzalez
The heart of Santa Clara
This quintessential Cuban park is named after Colonel Leoncio Vidal and Caro, who were killed at the site on March 23, 1896. In the shade of the palm trees, Vidal park is adorned with monuments of prodigal sons of the city, among which are Vidal and the philanthropist Marta Abreu. Many prominent buildings border the perimeter, including the Teatro La Caridad from 1885 which was one of the great theaters in this province during colonial times due to its frescoes inside done by Zalaya Camilo. There´s also The Museum of Decorative Arts of the eighteenth century which is full of period furniture and the Provincial Palace, a neoclassical gem built between 1902 and 1912 that houses the Martí library.
On the corner, a real eyesore stands out in contrast to the the architectural beauties that surround the square. This is the Hotel Santa Clara Libre, a civilian building built in the fifties of the last century. It was originally called the Grand Hotel. A movie theater called ¨Cloris¨was built on the ground floor and today it is one of the most modern of its kind in the Midwest. During the battle of Santa Clara, on December 31, 1958, the hotel was taken over by rebel army troops under the command of Ernesto Guevara because it was the lair of the Military Intelligence Service (SIM) of the dictatorship of Batista. It was and is a symbol of modernity for the inhabitants of the city and also a testament to a break with the past of capitalist decadence. But the real wonder is the Cuban character that shines through - there are no cars, no sellers, no crowds, rush or stress. It´s a space to enjoy the hospitable and friendly character of the Santa Clara-ness.
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