Las Santas Hermanas de Santa Clara de Asis Cathedral

Admire the beloved statue in this stately church. It was restored to a place of honor after a long and mysterious disappearance.

See one of the city’s most venerated churches, Las Santas Hermanas de Santa Clara de Asís Cathedral, a few blocks west of the main square. Walk along the narrow approaching street or ride in a horse-drawn cart, which may be traveling side-by-side with a goat-drawn wagon. Attend Mass or simply step inside to appreciate the cool serenity.

While many of the sights of Santa Clara focus on the Cuban Revolution and the city’s hero, Che Guevara, the cathedral reveals a different, gentler side of the city. Catholicism has been an important element of daily life in Cuba for centuries. Santa Clara had an earlier revered church alongside Leoncio Vidal Park. Worshippers were initially dismayed when that church was scheduled for demolition in the 1920s to be replaced by this structure. Gaze up from the narrow street to the tall twin bell towers of the church, which has today become an important focal point for the city.

With its blocky stone façade and limited ornamentation, the church’s architecture falls between neoclassic and neo-Gothic. Above the large pointed arched portal is a duplicate arched recess fronted by a white marble statue of Christ. Step inside the doors to see the interesting interior.

Immediately upon entrance, admire the 10-foot-tall (3-meter) statue of the Virgin Mary. Known informally as La Virgen de la Charca or Our Lady of the Pond, this statue has an interesting past. Soon after the church was consecrated in the 1950s, this large statue disappeared. Workers discovered the statue during road construction in the 1980s. After hundreds of local residents helped to clean and restore the statue, it was returned to this place of pride in 1995.

Beyond the statue, immerse yourself in the calm of the church’s interior. The pointed arch is repeated in front of the altar and in beautiful stained-glass windows flanking the side pews.

Las Santas Hermanas de Santa Clara de Asís Cathedral is about a 5-minute walk from Leoncio Vidal Park. Walk through the pleasant park to view its statues of historic figures and listen to live performances by the municipal band on its center bandstand.