Page 228 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

226  CUBA REGION B Y REGION

r Santiago de Cuba

This is perhaps the most African, the most musical and the
most passionate city in Cuba. In 1930 the Spanish poet
Federico García Lorca likened it to “a harp made of living
branches, a caiman, a tobacco flower”. Except for the cars
and some modern buildings, Santiago has not altered much.
This is a city where the heat – and the hills – mean that
people move to a slow rhythm. Yet it is a lively, exciting place
where festivities and dancing are celebrated with fervour,
never more so than during July’s Carnival. Santiago’s
citizens also take pride in the fact that Santiago is called the
“Cradle of the Revolution”. Sandwiched between the Sierra A restored Neo-Classical building
Maestra mountains and the sea, this is the second city in in the historic centre
Cuba in population size. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy tore
through Santiago causing much devastation.
Casa Natal de CALLE NARCISO LÓPEZ Cementerio de Plaza de la
Antonio Maceo Santa Ifigenia Revolución
Parque Céspedes CALLE SAO DEL INDIO PA S E O D E M A R T Í
The city centre spreads out in
chaotic fashion around Parque CALLE LOS MACEOS
Céspedes in a maze of narrow CALLE 10 DE OCTUBRE
streets. Any visit to the historic CALLE MARIANO Santo
Parque
centre of Santiago must start CORONA Tomás C A L L E P O R F I R I O VA L I E N T E ( C A LVA R I O ) Histórico Cuartel
Moncada
in Parque Céspedes, the C A L L E M AY Í A R O D R Í G U E Z ( R E LO J ) CALLE J.M. GÓMEZ DA SATURNINO LORA Abel
main square. From here, C A L L E G E N E R A L P O R T U O N D O ( T R I N I D A D ) Santamaría A V E N I D A D E LO S L I B E R TA D O R E S C A LL E M O NC AD A
visitors are inevitably CA LLE PÍ O RO S A DO (C A RN I CE RÍ A)
drawn along Calle Train C AL LE G EN ER A L LAC R ET ( S AN P EDRO ) CALL E H A R TM A NN ( SA N F ÉL IX ) CALLE GENERAL BANDERAS (SAN BARTOLOMÉ) CALLE MONSEÑOR BARNA
Heredia, the most Station CALLE MÁXIMO GÓMEZ ( SAN GERMÁN)
famous, popular and AV E . J E S Ú S M E N É N D E Z ( A L A M E D A )
festive street in the CALLE SAGARRA (SAN FRANCISC O) Bosque de los Héroes
VISTA ALEGRE
town. Every house CALLE JOBITO CALLE FÉLIX PÉÑA
G A R Z ÓN
bears signs of AVE DE ( V IC T O R IA N O )
the city’s great CALLE 10 DE OCTUBRE (GALLO) CALLE ECHEVARRÍA (SAN GERÓNIMO)
passions: music, CALL E PADRE OUIROGA
dancing, carnivals C A L L E J O S É A N T O N I O S A C O ( E N R A M A D A ) CORTÉ S CALLE HERNÁ N
and poetry. PLAZA
Museo Emilio
At certain times, CALLE AGUILERA Ayuntamiento Bacardí Moreau Café La PLAZA DE MARTE
including the first Casa de Diego Parque Hotel Isabelica DOLORES
Velázquez
half of July when the C A L L E H E R E D I A Céspedes Casa Granda Museo del
Fiesta del Caribe is Balcón de Casa Carnaval C A L L E H E R E D I A
Natal de José
held, this street becomes Velázquez Catedral de Casa de María Heredia AV E N ID A 24 D E F E BRER O ( T R O CH A )
la Trova
la Asunción
a stage for amateur artists. Museo CALLE BARTOLOMÉ MASÓ (SAN BASILIO)
Traditional son music, on de la Lucha Steps of del Ron CALLE J. CASTILLO DUANY
Museo
(SANTA LUCÍA)
the other hand, can be Clandestina Padre Pico Santa Clara
heard in the courtyard of the CALLE CLARÍN
Patio de Artex at No. 304, CALLE SANTA RITA
while No. 208, the West of Parque Céspedes
former “Cafetín de The picturesque area southwest
Virgilio”, became the of Parque Céspedes, called
Casa de la Trova in Tivolí, and the deep bay can be
1968, and local and seen from the Balcón de
foreign bands can be Velázquez, a wonderful
heard playing here viewpoint situated at the corner
day and night. Photo­ of Calle Mariano Corona and
graphs of great Bartolomé Masó. The viewpoint
Cuban musicians was named after the Spanish
past and present such conquistador Diego Velázquez,
as El Guayabero and who founded the city in 1515.
Compay Segundo A small fort was built here in the
Calle Heredia, a street focused on music and festivities cover the walls. 16th century to house artillery
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp262–3 and p275
226-227_EW_Cuba.indd 226 14/02/17 11:37 am