Vista Alegre

The Vista Alegre area of Santiago de Cuba was formerly the city's affluent residential district. Vista Alegre has been recognized as a national monument by the government. It is a great option if you want to meander around the streets and observe the diverse modernist architecture on exhibit in the 165 buildings. The architecture in this region, which includes numerous Neoclassical mansions, dates from the 1920s and 1930s.

You may take a stroll along the broad tree-lined lanes and imagine what life must have been like for the affluent Cubans who once resided in these magnificent mansions. Many have been converted into offices, restaurants, and schools. Aside from the architecture, the small Museo de Imagen, which has exhibits on the history of photography in Cuba, and the Casa del Caribe, a cultural research center that hosts music evenings and festivals, are two more tourist attractions in Vista Alegre.