This story appeared in the December issue of PRC’s Preservation in Print magazine. Interested in getting more preservation stories like this delivered to your door? Become a member of the PRC for a subscription!
This holiday season, give yourself and a loved one the gift of sun-swept beaches, historic architectural treasures and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In other words, book your spot now for the Preservation Resource Center’s exclusive tours of historic Bermuda and Cuba in 2023!
We’re thrilled to journey to Bermuda April 1-7 in partnership with the Tulane University School of Architecture. The Bermuda National Trust created our exciting itinerary that explores sites of architectural heritage set amidst breathtaking vistas of sandy beaches and waving palms. We will enjoy private VIP visits to historic sites and private homes (access not open to most travelers), including a catered lunch in the lush gardens of Orange Valley.
Brent Fortenberry, Historic Preservation director at the Tulane School of Architecture, will be our on-the-ground expert. He has done extensive documentation work at historic sites in Bermuda, as he specializes in the vernacular architecture of the British Atlantic world.
In addition to our architectural exploration, there will be a private tour of one of the island’s most impressive art collections and a visit to Bacardi’s world headquarters. After each day’s explorations, there will be plenty of time to go to the beach and relax at the 137-year-old Hamilton Princess Hotel. Known as the “Pink Palace,” it’s the grand dame of the island’s resorts.
This trip will be an unforgettable experience — a perfect blend of engaging explorations and luxurious relaxation. If you book by Dec. 31, you’ll get early-bird pricing of $300 off. See all the details and sign up here!
Photo 1: Explore Verdmont Historic House and Gardens, built in 1710, with the PRC in Bermuda. Photo courtesy of WikiCommons. Photo 2: The Bermuda trip includes a stay at one of the island’s most luxurious hotels, the Hamilton Princess Hotel. Photo courtesy of fairmont.com.
Bermuda is just the start of PRC’s island adventures in 2023. From Oct. 21-28, we’re returning to Cuba to explore the architectural and cultural treasures of Havana, Trinidad and Cienfuegos. As a Cuban American, I am passionate about the island and its people, and I worked carefully with Project Por Amor, a fantastic company, to craft an itinerary that’s goes far beyond the traditional tourist sites. You might recognize the company for its work with Preservation Hall’s A Tuba to Cuba documentary film. For the PRC, Project Por Amor will open the doors to exclusive sites rarely seen by tourists.
After settling into our hotel set in a historic mansion, we’ll kick off the trip with dinner at one of the most stunning restaurants in Havana, La Guarida Paladar, followed by live music after the meal. Then, every day will feature walking tours, ferry and chartered bus trips, expert guides, lunches at wonderful venues and visits from some of the island’s star architects and historians, including PRC’s friend Dr. Isabel Rigol. As logistics can be hard in Cuba, PRC’s guests will be cared for the entire trip.
After four thrilling days in Havana, we will depart via chartered bus to the gorgeous seaside town of Cienfuegos, the city that most resembles New Orleans in the Caribbean, as it also was settled by the French immigrants from Bordeaux and Louisiana. We will enjoy a tour with the town historian and a delicious lunch, before traveling onward to the spectacular town of Trinidad. In the early 1800s, Trinidad was a bustling sugar production town. When the granulation of sugar was introduced, the town’s economy fell flat, and today it sits suspended in time, with its Colonial-era buildings still shining in their splendor. The town historian of Trindad will lead us through a tour of that beautiful city. Both Cienfuegos and Trinidad are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
On our last day, back in Havana, we will visit two landmarks: Cemetario Colon, one of the most famous cemeteries in the world, and the Finca Vigia, Ernest Hemingway’s home that today is a museum on the outskirts of town. Before departing, we’ll spend one last memorable night in Cuba’s capitol city, enjoying a farewell dinner together. This special itinerary will book up quickly, click here to learn more and get a spot!
New Orleans’ architectural treasures are second to none, but what a joy it will be to explore the beauty of other tropical locales together in the new year. Join us!
The PRC’s first Cuba trip was in October of 2019. Photos by Davis Allen.
Learn more and sign up for the trip to Bermuda on April 1-7
Learn more and sign up for the trip to Cuba on October 21-28
Danielle Del Sol is the Executive Director of the Preservation Resource Center.
