Cubans have greatly contributed to Florida's culture with music, fine arts, architecture, cuisine and literature. Florida and Cuba have always been close. Geographically, only 90 miles separate the coasts of Florida and Cuba. That placed La Florida firmly in the Cuban orbit of influence dating back to the 1500s when Spain used Cuba as an administrative base for its exploration and colonization of the New World. When England gained control of Florida in the 1700s, most Spaniards there, along with a sizeable number of Native Americans and blacks, resettled in Cuba. That means many of today's Cuban Americans are descendents of these early Floridians. In the 1800s, the tide of emigration was reversed as many Cubans came to Florida to develop the fledgling cigar industry, especially in Key West and Tampa. The 20th century saw further strengthening of the link between Cuba and Florida, starting with the growth of tourist travel in the 1920s and culminating with the mass exodus of Cuban refugees to Florida, particularly Miami. Throughout Florida's history, the lives of Cubans and Floridians have been profoundly fused.

From Tampa to Miami, the Cuban Heritage Trail covers significant historical points of interest in Florida. In this tour, you'll visit the National Historic Landmark District of Ybor City in Tampa, once known as the "Cigar Capital of the World." There you will also see the only parcel of land in the United States that is actually owned by Cuba.

From here, you'll head to South Florida's Little Havana and downtown Miami to experience the colorful Latin sites and the flavor of the shops and restaurants along Calle Ocho. This exciting four-day tour highlights the state's colorful past with Cuba and the cultural heritage that is so deeply woven into the fabric of Florida today.


Day One

The Cuban Heritage Trail begins in Tampa. Hernando de Soto, governor of Cuba, sailed into Tampa Bay in 1539, establishing a connection between Cuba and Florida that continues to this day. During the late 1800s, Vicente Martínez Ybor brought thousands of cigar workers to the area and Henry B. Plant linked Tampa to the rest of Florida with his new railroad. Today, descendents of these early settlers are second- and third-generation Cuban Americans who bring a Latin flair to Tampa. Take Exit 1 off I-4 to start your adventure in Ybor City, a National Historic Landmark District. Ybor City, which bears the name of its founder, dates from 1886 when it was created as a company town for those who worked in Ybor's cigar factory. By the turn of the century, it boasted a population of 10,000 Cubans, Spaniards, Germans and Italians and was renowned as the "Cigar Capital of the World." It was also home to numerous other cigar factories, restaurants, social clubs, stores, homes and hotels. Today, Ybor City contains nearly 1,000 historic sites in a 60-acre area.

First, stop by the Ybor City State Museum, 1818 East 9th Ave. This museum is in the historic Ferlita Bakery, an Italian bakery that supplied much of Ybor city's fresh daily bread between 1923 and 1973. Today, it contains a collection of cigar makers' tools and historical exhibits related to José Martí, the Cuban Revolutionary Party and the Spanish-American War. Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., seven days a week. Call 813-247-6323.

Next, head to the Cigar Maker's House Museum, 1804 East 9th Ave. Actually, there are six wooden houses, called "casitas," in this reconstructed neighborhood, all built in the early 1890s and moved here in the mid-1980s. One serves as the museum. Open 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., seven days a week. Call 813-247-6323.

A walking tour along the brick-lined walkways of historic Ybor City is highly recommended. Strolling through Ybor City, the ornate wrought-iron balconies, globed streetlights and majestic architecture recall an earlier, more elegant era. You will also see the magnificent preservation and restoration of the historic social clubs such as L’Unione Italiana and the Circulo Cubano. And at the corner of 8th Ave. and 13th St., José Martí Memorial Park is the only soil in the United States that is technically part of Cuba. Free self-guided walking tour brochures are available at the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce, 1800 East 9th Ave., call 813-248-3712. Also, the Ybor City Museum Society offers guided walking tours Sat. at 10 a.m., call 813-247-6323.

The world-renowned Columbia Restaurant, 2117 East 7th Ave., is the state's oldest and the nation's largest Spanish restaurant and a must-visit while in Ybor City. Established in 1905, Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernández, Sr. opened the small corner cafe, and now the restaurant can seat more than 1,600 people. It is famous for its Spanish cuisine, dinner shows and old-world architectural charm. Open for lunch and dinner. Call 813-248-4961.

Also, you may wish to stay the night in Ybor City to experience a nightlife that is as colorful as the flamenco dancers.
Here you'll find exotic fruit stands, Cuban bakeries and casual sidewalk cafes where you can sample Cuban cuisine.


Day Two

From the Ybor City Historic District, proceed west on 9th Ave. to Nebraska Avenue, turn left onto Nebraska and drive south, following the signs to the cruise ship terminals and the Florida Aquarium. This will bring you to Channelside Drive. Immediately after crossing the Hillsborough River, turn right and then left onto Kennedy Boulevard. You'll find the Henry B. Plant Museum on the right at 401 West Kennedy Blvd. The building that houses it, the historic Tampa Bay Hotel, is unmistakable with its Moorish Revival architecture capped with spectacular minarets. It was built in 1891 by railroad magnate Henry B. Plant, the man responsible for connecting Tampa to the rest of the state. The museum contains a Spanish-American War room featuring many artifacts from the Cuban War for Independence. Open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., weekdays and Sat.; Noon - 4 p.m., Sun. Call 813-254-1891.

It's a fairly long drive to your next destination along the Cuban Heritage Trail. Miami is about 250 miles from Tampa, a five-hour drive.


Day Three

The most direct route to South Florida is State Road 60. Go east for 96 miles to the Yeehaw Junction interchange of Florida's Turnpike, then proceed south on the Turnpike to North Miami where the Turnpike blends into I-95. Keep heading south on I-95 for about nine miles to Exit 5A at N.W. 8th St., going toward the Orange Bowl. N.W. 8th St. merges into N.W. 3rd Court, where you'll turn left onto West Flagler Street and find the Historical Museum of Southern Florida at 101 West Flagler St. It has year-round exhibits relating to Cuban history and culture. One of the museum's exhibits, "Tropical Dreams," contains a Cuban raft, a model of the Nuestra Señora de Atocha and a life-sized reproduction of a sentry tower from Castillo de San Marcos. Allow one or two hours to see all the exhibits. Open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Mon. - Sat.; until 9 p.m., Thurs. (Sept. - May only, not open late in summer); Noon - 5 p.m., Sun. Call 305-375-1492. The museum also schedules two- to three-hour biking and walking tours through Little Havana, as well as other parts of the city, throughout the year. For tours, call Dr. Paul George at 305-237-3723.

From the museum, go west on Flagler Street and turn left on 8th Ave., bringing you to Little Havana, which covers a 3.3-square-mile area west of downtown, between Flagler Street and S.W. 8th St. The heart of Little Havana is Calle Ocho, a world-renowned stretch of Latin shops and restaurants lining 8th St. Here you'll find exotic fruit stands, Cuban bakeries and casual sidewalk cafes where you can sample Cuban cuisine. You can also watch cigar rollers making traditional hand-rolled cigars. Each March, the area is the site of the massive weeklong street festival known as Calle Ocho Carnival Miami. It's easy to spend an entire day experiencing all that Little Havana has to offer.


Day Four

To reach your destination in Miami, go north on S.W. 3rd Ave., turn left onto 7th St. and then left onto 14th Ave. Another left turn on 8th St. and you're in the two-block stretch known as Cuban Memorial Boulevard, lined with monuments commemorating the heroes who fought in the struggle for Cuban independence. Memorials here include the Eternal Torch in honor of the 2506th Brigade, statues of Nestor Izquierdo, General Antonio Maceo and the Virgin Mary, as well as a bronze map of Cuba dedicated to "The ideals of people who will never forget the pledge of making their fatherland free." Allow an hour to view the monuments.

Next, go east on 8th St., turn left onto S.W. 12th Ave. and take the 836 East ramp onto I-395 in the direction of Miami Beach, stopping to pay a toll. Proceed on I-395 to the exit for N.E. 2nd Ave. in the heart of downtown, then turn left. Turn left on Biscayne Boulevard, which is also known as U.S. Hwy. 1, then right on N.E. 27th St.

Your destination, Evangelization Plaza, is at 720 N.E. 27th St. This Spanish-style plaza commemorates the early Jesuit missionaries and Spanish explorers who came to evangelize and convert the native Tequesta Indians to Christianity in the 16th century. Many of the priests and explorers had lived in Cuba before coming to Florida. In the plaza are five monuments that memorialize the martyrs and heroes of those early missions. The monuments take about 45 minutes to view. Call 305-576-2748.

Keep going west on 27th St. toward 5th Ave., turn left on Biscayne Boulevard, then bear right onto N.E. 13th St., turn left on 2nd Ave., then make a right to 12th St. Look for the sign for I-95 South and turn left on the ramp leading onto I-95 South. Get off I-95 at the SW 25th Road exit, heading toward the Key Biscayne/Rickenbacker Causeway. Turn left onto 26th Road, then right onto South Miami Avenue. This leads to Our Lady of Charity Shrine, 3609 South Miami Ave. The shrine, funded and built by Cuban refugees in 1966, honors Cuba's patroness. Inside is a breathtaking mural by Teok Carrasco that portrays the history of the Catholic Church in Cuba. The statue of the Virgin was brought from Cuba in 1961. Behind the shrine, facing Biscayne Bay, are the busts of Cuban patriots José Martí and Father Félix Varela. Allow an hour to explore the shrine. Open 8 a.m. - 9 p.m., daily. Call 305-854-2404.

To reach the final destination on the Cuban Heritage Trail, start on South Miami Avenue going southwest, turn right onto S.W. 17th Ave., make a left at 16th St., then right onto Unity Boulevard and finally right on S.W. 8th St. You will arrive at Woodlawn Cemetery, 3260 S.W. 8th St. A black marble wall features a tribute to the "Unknown Cuban Freedom Fighter" who died in the Bay of Pigs invasion. Exiled Cuban presidents Gerardo Machado and Carlos Prío Socarras are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. This segment of the trip can be completed in an hour or less. Call 305-445-5425.

You may wish to use the following resources to either expand on this tour or plan a future driving tour of your own:

For information about other Cuban heritage sites in Florida, please call VISIT FLORIDA at 888-7-FLA USA (888-735-2872) to request the Florida Cuban Heritage Trail Guide. Or contact Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks (850-488-9872) to request the Florida State Parks Guide.

For other area-specific information, contact the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce (813-248-3712); Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (305-539-3000); and Florida Keys and Key West Tourism Development Council (305-296-1552).