Page 220 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

218  CUBA REGION B Y REGION

Gibara, an appealing seaside town with a colonial centre
2 Gibara A staircase bordered by marble 3 Bahía de Bariay
columns and fine stained­glass
Holguín. Road Map E3. * 72,000. Holguín. Road Map E3.
windows represent the region’s
South of the bay that Columbus best ensemble of 19th­ and East of Gibara is a bay with a
named Río de Mares (the river 20th­century furniture and objects. spit of land in the middle called
of seas) is the picturesque town About 2 km (1 mile) from Cayo de Bariay. Most historians
of Gibara, famous for an exten­ the centre of town are the (but not Baracoans, see p246)
sive network of caves perfect for Cavernas de Panadernos, agree that Columbus first landed
exploring on the edge of town. etched with pic tographs and here in 1492. With its abundant
In the 19th century, Gibara was home to bats. Cave diving flowers and trees laden with
the main port on the northern and exploring the system of fruit, it looked like paradise to
coast of the province of Oriente, caves with a guide is possible. the explorer. In 1992, on the
and it has the most important 500th anniversary of Columbus’
colon ial architecture in the area. E Museo de Artes Decorativas landing in Cuba, a monument
The shady Malecón (seafront) Calle Independencia 19. Tel (24) 844 called Encuentro (“Encounter”),
has a statue of Columbus shown 687. Open 8am–noon & 1–5pm dedicated to the Taíno Indians,
gazing at the horizon, a restored Mon–Wed, 8am–noon, 1– was erected here. The site is
garrison and views of the small 5pm, 8–10pm Thu–Sun.& 8 relatively remote if travelling
fishing harbour. From here, Note: fee for photography may apply. by car, but boat trips can be
narrow streets lead to the main T Cavernas de Panadernos arranged from Guardalavaca
square, overlooked by the Iglesia Oficina de Monumentos Technicos, (see p219). East of Cayo de Bariay
de San Fulgencio (1854), and Calle Sartorio 7. Tel (24) 845 107. is the beautiful Playa Don Lino.
an old theatre.
The Museo de Artes Decorativas
(Decorative Arts Museum) is Columbus in Cuba
housed in a 19th­ century manor. On 28 October 1492, when he first set foot
on Cuban land, Columbus wrote in his
travel journal: “I have never seen a more
beautiful place. Along the banks of the
river were trees I have never seen at home,
with flowers and fruit of the most diverse
kinds, among the branches of which
one heard the delightful chirping of
birds. There were a great number of
palms. When I descended from the Christopher Columbus, explorer
launch, I approached two fishermen’s of the New World
huts. Upon seeing me, the natives
took fright and fled. Back on the boat, I went up the river for a
good distance. I felt such joy upon seeing these flowery gardens
and green forests and hearing the birds sing that I could not tear
myself away, and thus continued my trip. This island is truly the
Façade of the Iglesia de San most beautiful land human eyes have ever beheld.”
Fulgencio at Gibara
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp262–3 and p275

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