Hotel Encanto Don Florencio is housed in a beautiful colonial mansion which was restored and turned into a hotel, among others, to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the founding of the city of Sancti Spíritus, the capital of the province of the same name.

The word Encanto (charm in Spanish) is one brand of hotel chain Islazul which features mostly small hotels- once residences of important families in the colonial times, now “boutique hotels”-, generally with lots of character and very intimate, featuring few rooms.

(The word can sometimes be found abbreviated to an “E” and used as part of the name and at the entrance of these lodgings).

One is positively surprised when walking through the beautiful lobby, painted in tropical colors, with period furniture and filled with antiques. Even more when discovering the nice bar and the two Jacuzzis in the back of the building.

The rooms are great, with high ceilings, elegant vintage furniture, beautiful curtains and spacious well-equipped bathrooms.

The best rooms are the two on the second floor that overlook the boulevard from their lovely balconies, although for guests with walking difficulties the ground floor would be more appropriate ( there is no elevator and the stairs are steep).

Staff is friendly, welcoming and will always help with bringing the luggage up. They will also prepare good cocktails at the bar and explain how to get around, where to buy internet cards and how to use them.

Sancti Spíritus is a lovely little city and Don Florencio is located in the very heart of it, on a pedestrian section of one of the main streets, surrounded by shops, restaurants, and only steps away from the main square, where its sister Hotel Encanto Plaza also stands.

Downsides: Some rooms offer no views or even windows since they were designed to open into the house’ central courtyard. There is no restaurant in the hotel and breakfast will be offered in Hotel Encanto Plaza, on Calle Independencia no. 2, Norte (100 meters away).