The central plaza of Santa Clara is Leoncio Vidal Park, busy with voices of families gathering, melodies of music playing and remembrances of an interesting history. Come here for people-watching during the day and stay for evening music performances.
Leoncio Vidal and his brothers influenced the culture and infrastructure of the town of Santa Clara and supported farmers in the surrounding countryside. In 1895, Vidal recruited those farmers as mambises or guerrillas to join him in the 1895 War of Independence against the Spanish. As colonel in the insurgent force, Vidal led troops into the city center to the large plaza, where he was killed in March of 1896. See the bust of this Santa Clara hero in the park named after him.
Elsewhere in the park is a large bronze statue of a seated Marta Abreu de Estévez, a wealthy benefactress of the city in the late 1800s. She provided support for the poor, contributing to public works of schools, utilities, elderly housing and even a weather station. Look northeast to the most prominent building near the park, La Caridad Theatre, which Marta Abreu built for the city in 1885. Try to see a performance here on the stage once graced by the great tenor Enrico Caruso.
Look for one more statue, El Niño de la Bota Infortunada, the Boy of the Unfortunate Boot. Intended to bring a touch of joy to the public space, the statue is a moving image of a young boy carrying his boot filled with water to bring to the aid of wounded and sick soldiers. Ironically, it was created as a symbol of the American Civil War rather than any conflicts in Cuba.
Frequently on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday evenings a band performs on the central bandstand or outside the theater. Sit on one of the benches and listen to Cuban, classical or international music. Gaze at the pedestrian walkway circling Leoncio Vidal Park and reflect on its history. Prior to 1894, a fence divided the footpath, with whites allowed on the inside and blacks required to walk outside.
