 Spanish
Governor Diego Velázquez founded the
settlement on July 25, 1515. The province
is 2382 square miles (610 square kilometers)
in size and is bounded by the sea and the
Sierra Maestra Mountains, with include Turquino
Park, the highest point (6476 fett, or 1974
meters, above sea level) in Cuba. The international
airport is only 15 minutes by car from the
center of the city.
Santiago, Cuba’s
second city, have an eclectic range of architectural
styles from colonial to art deco. The city
centre is cluttered, featuring many beautiful
pastel coloured buildings in better condition
than many of those in the capital.
During the 17th century
Santiago was besieged by pirates from France
and England, leading to the construction
of the Castillo del Morro, still intact
and now housing the piracy museum. Because
of its location, Santiago has been the scene
of many migratory exchanges with other countries;
it was the first city in Cuba to receive
African slaves, many French fled here from
the slaves’ insurrection in Haiti
in the 18th century and Jamaicans have also
migrated here from the neighbouring island.
It is known as the ‘heroic city’
(Ciudad Héroe) or ‘capital
moral de la Revolución Cubana. A
spot near its center still preserves its
colonial houses and narrow streets. Padre
Rico street is outstanding for its steep
steps. Here you will also find the famous
and visited Heredia street, named after
the Cuban poet of the 19th century, ending
at Céspedes park. This park is located
at the center of the city and is surrounded
by important buildings as the Cathedral,
the Museo de Ambiente Histórico Cubano
(Museum of the Cuban Historical Ambience),
the Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace)
and the house where Diego Velázquez
once lived. Others interest places are Museo
26 de Julio (Museum of July 26), Museo de
la Lucha Clandestina, Museum Emilio Bacardí
and much more.
The most popular pilgrimage
site in Cuba is the Santuario Nacional a
Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del
Cobre (El Cobre Sanctuary). The site is
housed in a church with dual bell towers
that stands alone a top a hill about 15
kilometers northwest of Santiago. Its arrivalto
the island is part of a legend that started
at the biginnings of the XVII century and
has changed with time. Three humble men
of the town, belonging to the three ethnics
or cultures that forged the Cuban people
(White, black and mulatto), found the image
of the virgin floating in the waters of
the Nipe Bay in Santiago. They took her
to mines of El Cobre (The Cooper) where
they built a hermitage for her.Every year
beautiful ¨cult and faith¨ ceremonies
take place to honor hos religious symbol
so popular in Cuba The Basílica de
la Caridad del Cobre , apart from its constructive
beauty, is famous for the great number of
personal objects and treasures that have
been dedvoted to the Virgin. Among them,
there is the golden medal that Ernest Hemingway
won as Nobel Prize of Literature.
Some sights East of Santiago
include the Granjita Siboney, Valle de la
Prehistoria, and the Acuario de Baconao.
The first of these, Granjita Siboney, is
a famous revolutionary hideout as the other
two are sure to be hits with the kids. Baconao
Park is an impressing tourist group provided
by several facilities and natural places.
Located in the Sierra Maestra, Baconao has
spectacular places, beautiful becahes like
Cazonal, Daiquirí, Siboney, Jaraguá,
Verraco, Sigua and baconao. It was declared
by UNESCO Natural Reserve of the Biosphere.
Here, there is a Valley of the Prehistoria,
consisting on reproductions of prehistoric
animals made of stone in almost their natural
size that are disseminated on a wide valley
surrounded by mountains, in the same places
where the legendary animals should have
lived.
The smallest park in the
mountain range of the Sierra Maestra owes
its name (the Big Rock) to the presence
of several stone blocks of which the biggest
is 51 meters long by 25 meters high, which
favor the temperate climate with its high
humidity. Fauna includes various endemic
species of birds. Climbing La Gran Piedra
and horseback are favored activities here.
From the highest point of the park it is
possible to watch the clouds drift among
the mountains in a beautiful contrast of
green and blue.
In Cuba, when you speak
of hospitafity, the peaple of Santiago de
Cuba always come to to mind. Being from
Santiago de Cuba means being attentive and
joyous. Music bursts forth in the city`s
streets, and averybody invents pretexts
for celebrating. Solidarity and joy are
deeply rooted in the hearts of those who
live in this Caribbean city.
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