Page 164 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

162  CUBA REGION B Y REGION

1 Matanzas P Teatro Sauto
Calle Magdalena, e/ Medio y Milanés.
Situated on the shores of a large bay, Matanzas is the capital Tel (45) 242 721. Closed for restora-
of the province of the same name. It is a major industrial tion work. Call for details. & 8
town, with an important port for exporting sugar. Because The pride and joy of the city,
of the many bridges over the Yumurí and San Juan rivers, this theatre was designed by
the Italian architect Daniele
linking the historic centre to the various quarters of Dell’Aglio, who was also
Matanzas and its two suburban districts (Versalles and responsible for the church of
Pueblo Nuevo), the city has been called the “Creole Venice”, San Pedro in the Versalles
a match for the no less ambitious “Athens of Cuba”. These district. On 6 April 1863 the
two names date back to the 19th century, when the artistic auditorium was opened to
the public as the Esteban
and cultural life of the city, the hub of a flourishing Theatre, in honour of the
agricultural region, outshone that of Havana. provincial governor who had
financed the construction. It
was later renamed the Sauto
Theatre because of the
Matanceros’ affection for the
local pharmacist, Ambrosio
de la Concepción Sauto, a
passionate theatre-goer. He
was famous for having cured
Queen Isabella II of Spain of a
skin disease, using a lotion he
had himself prepared.
A solidly built Neo-Classical
structure with several Greek-
inspired statues made of Carrara
marble, the theatre has various
frescoes of Renais sance
inspiration, executed by the
architect himself. The U-shaped
Teatro Sauto in Matanzas with its beautiful wood-panelling interior is almost entirely
covered with wood-panelling.
The Centre of Matanzas del Junco family. The collection Because of its exceptional
The streets in Matanzas are includes documents and acoustics, the versatile theatre
officially indicated by a number, objects concerning the history has been the chosen venue for
but in practice their colonial of the province. The section all kinds of shows and great
names are still commonly used. devoted to the colonial period, 19th- and 20th-century Cuban
The historic centre can be with documents on slavery and artists have appeared here.
seen in a few hours. A good sugar cane farm tools, is of World-famous perfor mers
place to start is Plaza de la particular interest. Copies of have included actress Sarah
Vigía, connected to the out- Aurora, the most interesting Bernhardt (in Camille in 1887),
skirts by the Concordia and Cuban periodical of the 19th ballet dancer Anna Pavlova and
Calixto García bridges. In the century, are also on display. the guitarist Andrés Segovia.
square is the statue of an
unknown soldier of the wars
of independence, and around
it stand several of the city’s key The Danzón
sights: the Neo-Classical fire In the 19th century two composers,
station (1898), the Palace of José White and Miguel Failde, were
Justice (1826), the Museo born in Matanzas, which was at that
Provincial, the Sauto Theatre time a major cultural centre. In 1879 the
and Ediciones Vigía. latter composed Las Alturas de Simpson,
which introduced a new musical genre
E Museo Provincial to Cuba, the Danzón. This Caribbean
Calle Milanés, e/ Magdalena y and Creole adaptation of European
Ayllon. Tel (45) 243 195. Closed for country dancing became the most
restoration. Call for details. & 8 popular dance on the island for about
This museum occupies the two- fifty years. It is still danced in Matanzas,
storey Palacio del Junco, a in the Casa Amigos del Danzón, the Period print of people dancing
bright blue porticoed building house where Miguel Failde was born. the Danzón
constructed in 1838 for the
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp259–60 and pp273–4

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