Good beautiful PINMAPPLE community.
On this occasion I am less than 14 kilometers from the beautiful Trinidad, in the Hacienda Manaca-Iznaga which houses a living testament to the sugar splendor that defined the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in Cuba. In the very heart of the Valley of the Mills, declared a World Heritage Site in 1988, this hacienda captivates with its interesting history, between stories of love, madness and life that transcend time.
Let's go!!
This Hacienda, a silent witness to the ups and downs of time, was built in 1750 by the vision of Manuel José de Tellería, who acquired the Manacanacu corral to start a honey and sugar mill. Over the centuries, he changed hands, acquiring his splendor with the Iznaga-Borrell, a powerful family that marked the history of Trinidad with its extensive lands and thousands of slaves.
This hacienda had a sugar factory, slave barracks and the imposing watchtower, which is always a tangible testimony of that time. Its colonial architecture is seen in every detail, from the facade rebuilt in 1989 to its interiors where it narrates the life of those times.
Today, this hacienda has evolved, and has made this a center welcoming visitors with a restaurant that serves good Creole food and soft drinks such as the iconic Cuban guarapo.
I found something that I could not miss and it was good live music, of course, traditional Cuban that makes it resonate between all its walls of this old architectural jewel, taking with it the stories of love, madness and life that are intertwined in every corner of this beautiful place within the Valley of the Ingenios.
Memories of Trinidad: The Manaca-Iznaga Hacienda Through Time.
The imposing Watchtower of the Hacienda stands as a beacon of the past, withstanding the onslaught of time and natural inclement weather with its almost 45 meters high. This was declared a National Monument in 1978, its structure is made of baked bricks, lime and sand, and being so high that it then suffered a slight inclination over the years, earning the nickname of the Tower of Pisa of Cuba.
It consists of seven floors high in various geometric shapes that end in an octagon, this tower was built among other things to keep an eye on slaves in their daily chores in those times. Its bell tower marked the beginning and end of the working days, in addition to serving as an alarm in cases of fires.
The internal staircase, recently restored, consists of 184 steps that connect each floor to the bell tower, offering a unique experience to those who venture to climb it, which I could not do because they left me, I did not ask if it was the schedule or that it was not possible but I imagine that from the top of this, you must see a very good panoramic view of the Valley and its old plantations.
According to the staff who work at that time before building this tower, a love dispute stood out between the brothers Pedro and Alejo Iznaga, who were in love with the same woman and challenged themselves to build the greatest work (one built a pose and the other the tower). Although some people who studied history attributed the tower to utilitarian needs.
The story became tragic with the jealousy of Alejo, one of the brothers, his fatal duel with a young rival and he locked his beautiful wife Juana, on the penultimate floor of the tower. They say that on Trinitarian nights, that floor is still illuminated and Juana's silhouette appears, accompanied by lamentations and moans that persist in the legend. I don't believe such a thing, but it's very intriguing to be able to spend some of these nights and live in the moment.
The truth is that this incredible architectural work, which in its years was the largest watchtower in Cuba, persists as an enduring symbol of the Valley of the Ingenios and the city of Trinidad.
Memories of Trinidad: The Manaca-Iznaga Hacienda Through Time.
I hope you enjoyed this travel experience as much as I did. Maybe later you will visit these places on your own. There is always something new to discover in each place, something different to explore. I hope you live your own adventure and enjoy it as I have done.
Chao Chao…
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It is a very beautiful place. The tower there is seen very high. The atmosphere there is calm. There you can sit in peace.
Yes, it has very good vibes, greetings!!!
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