Ybor City

Ybor City Review

Tampa's lively Latin quarter is one of only a few National Historic Landmark districts in Florida. It has antique-brick streets and wrought-iron balconies. Cubans brought their cigar-making industry to Ybor (pronounced ee-bore) City in 1886, and the smell of cigars—hand-rolled by Cuban immigrants—still wafts through the heart of this east Tampa area, along with the strong aroma of roasting coffee. These days the neighborhood is one of Tampa's hot spots, if at times a rowdy one, as empty cigar factories and historic social clubs have been transformed into trendy boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, and nightclubs.

Centennial Park. You can step back into the past at Centennial Park, which re-creates a period streetscape and hosts the Fresh Market every Saturday. 8th Ave. and 19th St., 33605.

Ybor City Museum State Park. This park provides a look at the history of the cigar industry. Admission includes a tour of La Casita, one of the shotgun houses occupied by cigar workers and their families in the late 1890s. 1818 E. 9th Ave., between Nuccio Pkwy. and 22nd St., from 7th to 9th Ave., 33601. 813/247-6323. www.ybormuseum.org. $4, walking tours $6. Daily 9-5; walking tours Sat. 10:30.