 The
province of Las Tunas is located in the eastern
region of the country. Limits in the north
with the Atlantic Ocean, in the south with
Granma province and the Golf of Guacanayabo,
in the east with Holguín province and
in the west with Camagüey province.
According to some
versions, the name of the province was inspired
by the abundance of wild Indian figs that
used to grow in the region. In 1849 it was
granted the title of villa, and in 1853
it became a city.
The province is made up
of 8 districts that have the highest rural
density. It has 5 bays and multiple sandy
and crystalline beaches, among which Cobarrubia
and Corella stand out.
El Cornito tourist resort,
5 km away from the city, used to be the
farm where the poet, Juan Cristóbal
Nápoles Fajardo, “El Cucalambé”,
was born and lived. They keep there a nice
tradition: la Nochebuena Cucalambeana (the
Cucalambeana Christmas Eve) which maintains
the characteristics of the guateque campesino
(farmers´ party), with the delight
of a pleasant Creole food.
Among its historical sites
we can point out the Calixto García
Provincial Museum, the Vicente García
Memorial and the Barbados Martyrs´
Museum, all of which narrate historical
deeds that have taken place in Cuba.
La Casa de la Caldosa
de Kike y Marina (Kike and Marina broth
house) is located at the western entrance
of the city, which offers a typical dish
from Las Tunas, la caldosa (a broth) made
with vegetables and chicken meat. This nice
dish was the inspiration of a popular song
among the Cubans.
In Las Tunas there is
a legend that is part of the folklore of
this people; it is the “Legend of
the White House”. It is said that
it was based in the love of a couple. The
father of the young girl, who didn´t
like the young boy because he was an Indian,
cut his head while he was riding his horse.
They say that the animal continued walking
for a while, carrying on its back the corpse
of the young man. Since then, this headless
cowboy travels over the main streets of
the City, Martí and Francisco Vega,
riding on a white vigorous horse.
|
