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Santiago De Cuba
The original capital of Cuba was Santiago, which was founded in 1514 and is situated less than five hundred miles from the present capital of the island, which is Havana. Santiago de Cuba is a hilly city with sloping streets, surrounded by the Sierra Maestra mountain range, and boasts some monuments and museums associated with Cuba's long struggle for national independence. Santiago also claims to have the oldest home in the Americas, the Case de Diego Velazquez, residence of the Spanish governor of old, which is a highlight of the city's historic quarter. Santiago is also known for its annual carnival and its closely situated natural areas, including the 80,000-hectare (197,684-acre) Baconao Park, which begins in the city and ends in the lagoon of the same name. It is climatically the hottest part of Cuba with average temperatures of 90°F (32°C).
Baconao Park
Baconao Park is a Biosphere Reserve, which contains a large park area and a mixture of wildlife and botanical treasures. It is possible to climb 459 stone steps to the summit of the huge rock, La Gran Piedra, and stand 4,049ft (1,234m) above sea level for a beautiful view. It is said that on a dark night one can see the lights of Jamaica. In the Valle de la Prehistoria visitors are awed by dozens of life-size model dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures lurking in lush vegetation. There is also a magnificent 45-hectare (111-acre) garden, the Jardin Ave de Paraiso, dating from 1860, that was laid out on a former coffee plantation and features a series of colour-coded gardens with unique scents and displays in each. An artist community consisting of 10 families have formed a fieldstone hamlet offering artwork of high standard at Comunidad Artistas Oasis, and then there is also an Auto Museum featuring gleaming old model cars.
Castillo de San Pedro del Morro (Morro Castle)
Morro Castle is an intricate structure located on the cliffs of Santiago Bay, just a few miles south of Santiago. This enormous piece of military architecture - a maze of stairways and dungeons - was begun in 1640. The Morro was rebuilt in 1664 after the English pirate, Henry Morgan, reduced it to rubble. The castle now houses the Museum of Piracy, featuring excellent displays on piracy, colonialism, and slavery. There are old blunderbusses, muskets, cutlasses and Toldeo blades in glass cases.
Telephone: 226 691 569; Opening time: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am to 4pm; Admission: 3 CUCs; extra for cameras
Bacardi Museum
An interesting attraction to visitors to Santiago in Cuba is the historic and family owned Bacardi rum factory museum, the company dates back to 1862 and the museum tells the story of the company history and the production processes. The family fled Cuba after the revolution in 1959 although the company's current production sales exceed 240 million bottles a year in 170 countries. Emilio Bacardi's private art and antique collection is still in Santiago as is the original family rum distillery. It was the fruit bats that nested in the rafters of the original rum factory that gave Bacardi rum its world-famous bat logo.
Address: Calle Pio Rosado No. 552 e/Aguilera y Heredia; Telephone: 226 62 8402
Santa Ifigenia Cemetery
Dominated by memorials, the entrance to the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery honours the many Cuban soldiers who died in Angola. From here the visitor is led to the impressive tomb of Cuban national hero, revolutionary and writer Jose Marti. The tomb is in the form of a crenulated hexagonal tower with each side representing one of Cuba's six original provinces. The round mausoleum is designed so that the sun will always shine on Marti's casket, which is draped with the Cuban flag. The cemetery also contains a shrine to the Virgin of Charity, Cuba's patron saint, in the form of the Basilica del Cobre. This little church is said to be the scene of miracles performed by the saint.
Address: Av Crombet; Opening time: Daily 8am to 6pm; Admission: 1 CUC; extra for cameras
