SANTIAGO DE CUBA PROVINCE

The province of Santiago de Cuba is included in the colorful and unique eastern region of the island, and was one of the first territories explored by the Spanish colonizers in the early sixteenth century. His city would hold the accolade of "First Port of Cuba" until the seventeenth century. Currently, the province has around a million of habitants, making it the second most populated, after Havana.



The entire region is characterized by the beauty of its rugged mountain terrain, including in the domains of the impressive Sierra Maestra, which is the main geographical feature of the province. The highest elevation of Cuba, Pico Turquino, is located in Santiago area, and is one of the most celebrated climbs by visitors.



The cultural roots of Santiago de Cuba are among the most diverse and complex country. The province is known as the cradle of son, bolero and trova, three of the most influential Cuban rhythms in the musical spectrum. Similarly, the African, Haitian and French tracks are displayed as other defining features of their cultural identity.
Even today, tourists can visit the poetic ruins of the coffee plantations established by the first French settlers emigrated from Haiti.






The city of Santiago de Cuba, the provincial capital, is the second largest city in the country from the points of historical, cultural, economic and industrial terms. Furthermore, it is known as the "Cradle of the Revolution" for his patriotic traditions and decisive in the overthrow of Fulgencio Batista tyrannical power of role.



Moreover, the carnival of Santiago de Cuba is the most colorful and authentic throughout the country, a real popular celebration.

What to see?

Baconao Park

The Baconao Park is a Cuban National Park that covers a wide region located approximately 20 kilometers from the city of Santiago de Cuba, have a total area of ​​84.600 hectares.
In 1987, it was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by Unesco.

 

The Great Stone

It represents a huge block of rock of volcanic origin, with dimensions that include 51 meters long, 25 high and 30 wide, with an estimated weight above 63 thousand tons.
Precisely, that is the highlight of the mountain system, with a height of 1.225 meters above sea level and integrated into the attractions that make up the Sierra Maestra Great National Park.
The ascent to the peak of the Great Stone is made through 452 steps, where the visitor faces the adventure surrounded by an abundant vegetation of ferns, orchids and other species that inhabit the area.

Santa Ifigenia Cemetery

The Santa Ifigenia cemetery is the main cemetery, necropolis or main pantheon of the Cuban East and the city of Santiago de Cuba, is the second important cemetery of the island behind the Necropolis of Christopher Columbus in Havana.
It was inaugurated in February 1868 and declared a National Monument in 1937.
In it, remains the rest of 32 generals of the Independence Wars of Cuba.





The most important Mausoleum in the Santa Efigenia Cemetery is dedicated to José Julián Martí Pérez, who was buried next to the rest of the mambises veterans from 1947 to 1951, being inaugurated on June 30 of that year the current tomb, which is guarded by a permanent guard of honor since 2002




Among the historical figures buried in the cemetery are:
José Martí, Federico Capdevila, José Maceo, Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, Pepe Sánchez, Francisco Repilado (Compay Segundo), Mariana Grajales, María Cabrales, Frank País, Josué Pais, Otto Parellada, Tony Aloma, Pepito Tey, Elvira Cape and Fidel Castro (Leader of the Cuban Revolution)

The University of East

The University of Oriente (UO), is a Cuban public institution, dedicated to education and research at a higher and postgraduate level. It is the second highest public institution in Cuba, founded on October 10th, 1947, in the city of Santiago de Cuba, to the east of the country hence its name.
Its greatest development came in 2002, when the Universalization of Higher Education began in all the municipalities of the province of Santiago de Cuba. It is attached to the Ministry of Higher Education.
It is one of the most prestigious houses of high studies of all Cuba, due to its faculty cloister and the rigor in choosing the students.

Basilica of Our Lady of the Copper

The Basilica and National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity of the Copper is a minor basilica of the Catholic Church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary that is in Santiago de Cuba.
It was built in 1926 in the town of El Cobre(The Copper) about 12 miles west of Santiago de Cuba. It is an isolated church on the hill "Cerro de la Cantera" and is linked to the town by a route of 254 steps.
It has a central belfry and two lateral towers crowned by domes of red brick.
The basilica is under the circumscription of the Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba.
It was decreed on December 22^nd, 1977. In 2015 the Pope Francisco, during his trip to Cuba also visit it.
 The figure of the Patroness of Cuba is exhibited.

Chivirico town

The picturesque village of Chivirico is located just 75 km from the city of Santiago de Cuba, in the foothills of the Sierra Maestra. The rustic atmosphere that reflects its unique spirit and the lively pace of its friendly people make the visit to Chivirico is appreciated for its authentic character. In his hot streets you can witness the daily life of the Cuban East in its most pristine form: the musical echo the cries; multiple initiatives peddlers pushing their colorful through the dusty streets of the place carts; traces of cultural and racial mix in Cuba, everything.
The beautiful landscape set of Chivirico, characterized by abundant mountain elevations facing the warm waters of the Caribbean.

Baconao Park

Few tourist destinations in Cuba can be compared to the fascinating landscape of the Park, a site necessary visit, located 20km from the city of Santiago de Cuba, was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1987. The area comprises a portion of more important mountain resort of Cuba, a beautiful and well-preserved lagoon and a coastline of warm water, where several beaches of interest are located within the tourism scheme of the province.
Overall, the Baconao Park, with its 800 km²extension, hosting one of the most diverse and important ecosystems in Cuba, further characterized by the astonishing number of endemic species of fauna and flora present in their environment.



Also in the grounds of the park include the Land Transport National  Museum, which exhibits its gleaming classic cars, and its collection of miniatures of more than 2000 models; as well as a modest aquarium, celebrated for its dolphin show and its tunnel 30 m underwater, unique in its kind in Cuba.






For its part, the unusual Prehistoric Valley is one of those picturesque places in eastern Cuba. This attractive park, which includes more than 200 sculptures of dinosaurs’ real size, to recreate, from naivety, life on earth during the Jurassic period. Valley also incorporates an interesting Prehistory Museum of Natural History.



Another interesting site is the pristine Baconao Lagoon, ideal for boating during sunset. The lagoon is also the site of a crocodile farm; a restaurant, known for its seafood specialties; and the iconic Taino Indian village, which offers a detailed recreation of the life of the first inhabitants of Cuba. Finally, in the coastal area are located quiet and lovely beaches Cazonal, La Laguna and El Caletoncito.

Santiago de Cuba City

The second most important and populated city of Cuba, the birthplace of world-renowned musicians, poets, historical heroes and street troubadours. The legendary city of Santiago de Cuba is a place for fascination. In its unique colorful human, you can perceive, as elsewhere, cultural and racial mix that defines the Caribbean identity.



Founded in 1514 by the well-known conqueror Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, Santiago de Cuba was among the "seven first villages" of the island and by the exceptional geographical conditions of its surroundings function as the capital of Cuba until 1556. The first governor of Santiago was Hernán Cortés, just before leaving for his campaign in what would become the Viceroyalty of New Spain in Mexico. Santiago de Cuba is also known as the "Cradle of the Revolution" and "Hero City" since its name has been closely linked to the patriotic history.



In its historic center include the Céspedes Park, one of the most popular and picturesque areas of the city; the House of Culture Miguel Matamoros, meeting place for local artists and troubadours; City Hall, an iconic neoclassical building, where Fidel Castro proclaimed the triumph of the Revolution on January 2^nd, 1959;Diego Velazquez museum, which dates from 1522 and was the official residence of the first governor of Cuba; and the Street Heredia, a main artery in its urban scheme.




Among the many museums of interest include: the Municipal Museum Emilio Bacardí, founded in 1899 by magnate rum, patriot and mayor of the city itself; Carnival Museum, where the history of one of the most important and colorful popular celebrations in Cuba is exposed; the Clandestine Struggle Museum, located in a beautiful colonial style building.




Historical Museum "26 July". Located in one of the pavilions of the School City "26 of July", adjacent to the historic Post 3, where a group of fighters under the command of the young lawyer Fidel Castro Ruz, tried to take the former Moncada Barracks; Converted into School City "July 26", January 28th, 1960.
In 1967, and with a view to the celebration of the fourteenth anniversary of the assault on the Moncada Barracks, was created the "26 of July" Museum.



Each year, the Caribgean´s House organizes the Caribbean Festival and the Feast of Fire, the two most important for the celebration of African cultural heritage in Cuba festivities. In general, the city offers a kaleidoscopic image of colors, sounds and people of Cuba, is a "hot" stage for the true spirit of the Caribbean, located between the past and present, between the sea and the mountains.