The Cathedral of Saint Clare of Assisi faces Parque Vidal and has been the city's main Catholic church since the colonial era. The current building is relatively restrained by Cuban cathedral standards — a single-tower neoclassical facade without the elaborate baroque decoration of churches in Havana or Trinidad. Inside, the nave is long and cool, with whitewashed walls and wooden pews, and the natural light from the high windows gives it a calm, contemplative quality.
The cathedral's connection to the city's name is direct: Santa Clara de Asís (Saint Clare of Assisi) is the patron saint of the city, which was founded in 1689. The church holds regular services, and the attached small museum covers the religious history of the diocese. It's an easy stop from Parque Vidal — the two face each other — and the contrast between the colonial church and the Soviet-era buildings nearby captures something essential about Santa Clara's layered history.