Page 215 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

CUBA REGION B Y REGION  213

EASTERN CUBA

Granma • Holguín • Santiago de Cuba • Guantánamo

Cubans refer to the eastern part of Cuba as the
Oriente, giving it an exotic, magical appeal.
The landscape, stretching out towards Haiti
and other Caribbean islands, is varied, with majestic
mountains, magnificent coastlines and an area of arid desert
unusual in Cuba. The eastern cities, often rich in history, include
Santiago de Cuba, host to one of Latin America’s most famous carnivals.

From the 17th to the 19th centuries, at the stake in the 16th century for
thousands of black slaves were brought to organizing resistance against the Spanish.
Cuba from Africa, men and women who Then, in the 19th century, local nationalists
became the ancestors of the multi-ethnic led the wars of independence. The citizens
mix visible in Eastern Cuba today, part of Bayamo even burned down their town
African, but also part Spanish, part French rather than hand it over to the enemy. In
and part Chinese. In this cultural melting the 20th century, there were the rebeldes
pot, African and European, Roman (many of whom were from Eastern Cuba,
Catholic and pagan traditions are blended, including the Castros themselves), who
sometimes inextricably. launched the struggle against Batista’s
The area is full of apparent dictatorship by attacking the Moncada
contradictions: there is the combative barracks in Santiago.
Oriente, rebellious and indomitable; and Yet the people of eastern Cuba also
yet there is also the laid-back Oriente, an know how to have a good time. They
oasis of pleasure; and the sonorous Oriente, adore music, rhythm and dance of all
the cradle of great musicians. It is true that kinds, and each July put on a colourful
the people of Eastern Cuba have always Carnival and Fiesta del Caribe at Santiago
fought with great fervour. One example is de Cuba; the carnival is one of the most
the Indian chief Hatuey, who was burned celebrated in Latin America.

Cactuses growing along the Costa Sur, the only arid zone on the island, east of Guantánamo
Basílica del Cobre, location of the venerated black Madonna, Virgen de la Caridad

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