Regional Office for Culture in Latin America and the Caribbean

Portal of Culture of Latin America and the Caribbean

Cuba - Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of the Mills)

The Valle de los Ingenios was one of the richest sugar-producing regions of Cuba during the first half of the 19th century, with scores of sugar mills that prospered, with their own plantations, slave quarters, surrounding hamlets, burial sites, and fertile grounds which generated the riches and splendour of Trinidad during that period. In 1795 there were 2676 slaves in 34 sugar mills.

 

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It has been declared National Monument (1989) and World Heritage (1988)

 

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Valley of the Mills. San Isidro Tower. Photo: Nilson Acosta
Restoration work at San Isidro Sugar mill. . Photo: Nilson Acosta
Presence of the valley railway. . Photo: Nilson Acosta
Hacienda Alagaba. . Photo: Nilson Acosta
Valley of the Mills. Hacienda mansion being put to new use . Photo: Nilson Acosta
Valley of the Mills. Mansion of Guáimaro sugar mill. Photo: Nilson Acosta
Valley of the Mills. Traditional house restored. Photo: Nilson Acosta
Valley of the Mills. Sugar mill bell conserved in original location. Photo: Nilson Acosta
Valley of the Mills. General view of the valley. Photo: Nilson Acosta
Valley of the Mills. Valley seen from the Manaca Iznaga Tower . Photo: Nilson Acosta
Valley of the Mills. San Isidro Tower. Photo: Nilson Acosta

Other data of interest

Cuba

Historical name

Valle de los Ingenios

Address

Municipio Trinidad (Municipality of Trinidad), Sancti Spíritus , PC: 62600 .

Responsible entity

Office of the Curator of Trinidad and the Valle de los Ingenios

Management plan

Classification

Cultural landscape

Category

National monument Inscribed on the World Heritage List

Function-Testimony

Multipurpose

Access level

Free

Current Use

Agriculture, forest logging, ranching, tourism and settlements.

Original use

Sugar industry

Property kind

Mixed

Expressions of intangible heritage associated

Communities upholding the African traditions which are expressed in religion, music and dance are still living in the valley.