Page 183 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

CENTR AL CUBA – WEST  181

personality are on display.
García Caturla was a composer, The Parrandas
pianist, saxophone player,
percussionist, violinist and
singer, as well as a fine tennis
player and rower, journalist
and art critic.
Also in the square are three
other noteworthy buildings.
The Hotel Mascotte was the
site of an important meeting
between Generalíssimo Máximo A 19th-century print showing people
Gómez and a US delegation gathering in the square
Baroque altar at Iglesia de San Juan in 1899. The former Casino
Bautista, Remedios Español, now Casa de la Cultura, In 1829 the parish priest of
and the El Louvre café, founded Remedios, Francisco Virgil
q Remedios in 1866, also stand here. de Quiñones, had the idea
However, Remedios is most of getting some boys to
Villa Clara. Road Map C3. * 16,500. bang on sheets of tin in
£ @ n Infotur, Calle Pi y Margall, famous for the Parrandas, the order to get the lazier
(42) 397 227. _ Parrandas (24 Dec). local festival documented in church members out of their
the fascinating Museo de las homes to participate in
Founded in 1515 by Vasco Parrandas Remedianas. the night-time celebrations
Porcallo de Figueroa and given Here, photographs, musical of the Advent masses
the name of Santa Cruz de la instruments, costumes, (16–24 Dec).
Sabana, this town was renamed sketches, carriages and trabajos In time this strange
San Juan de los Remedios del de plaza – decorated wooden concert developed into a
Cayo after a fire in 1578. structures – bring to life fully fledged festival, with
This peaceful place has a Parrandas past and present. music, dances, parades with
small, well-preserved colonial floats and huge wooden
historic centre in the area Environs contraptions (trabajos de
around Plaza Martí. Overlooking Located north of Remedios, plaza). The festivity is a
this square is the Iglesia de San the resort of Cayo Santa María sort of cross between Mardi
Gras and the Italian Palio
Juan Bautista, which is con- is reached via 48 km (30 miles) horse race, based on the
sidered one of the most of low-lying causeway known as competition between
important churches in Cuba. El Pedraplén. The resort is made two quarters of Remedios,
What we see today is the result up of hotels set along stunning San Salvador and Carmen.
of restoration carried out in sandy beaches, as well as a The Parrandas begin
the 20th century thanks to dolphin arium, a bowling alley on 4 December with
the rich landowner Eutimio and a shopping complex. concerts performed
Falla Bonet, who revived its with various percussion
original Baroque splendour E House of Alejandro instruments, and end
without touching the Neo- García Caturla with a great crescendo
Classical bell tower. Most Calle Camilo Cienfuegos 5. Tel (42) 396 on Christmas Eve. The two
striking are the lavish Baroque 851. Open 9am–noon & 1–6pm Tue– trabajos de plaza, one per
altar and the magnificent Sat, 9am–1pm Sun. & 8 quarter, which are made
decorative ceiling. E Museo de las Parrandas during the year, are left
Behind the cathedral is the Remedianas in Plaza Martí during
House of Alejandro García Alejandro del Río 74 e/ Máximo the festivities. They are
Caturla. Here, the musical Gómez y Enrique Malaret. Tel (42) illuminated at nine in the
instruments, photographs and 395 448. Open 9am–6pm Tue–Sat, evening and may have a
some personal belongings of 9am–1pm Sun. Closed 1 Jan, 1 May, historical, patriotic, political,
this talented 20th-century 26 Jul, 25 Dec. & 8 scientific or architectural
theme. Later on there are
fireworks to welcome the
entrance of the floats
(carrozas), which never
occurs before 3am. These
tableaux vivants move
among the crowd.
The most endearing aspect
of the Parrandas, enlivened
by songs, polkas and rumbas,
is that all the inhabitants, of
all ages, take part.
Plaza Martí, the tranquil central square in Remedios

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