This island, the largest of the Canarreos archipelago, was discovered by Admiral Christopher Columbus in 1494. During several centuries served as a haven and operation base for pirates and smugglers. It has been called indistinctly treasure island, parrot island, island of the deported, and until 1975 it was called Isle of Pines. From that year […]
Special municipality, the largest in Cuba, contained in an island located in the Golfo de Batabanó, south from the western portion of the island of Cuba. The isle has an extension of 2 419 sq km (934 sq mi) and a population of 77 076 inhabitants (1996). Its territory is mainly plain, divided in two […]
The homonym capital city of the Santiago de Cuba province was founded by Diego Velázquez in 1515, by the mouth of river Paradas, but shortly after was moved to its actual location. In 1520, its cathedral was built and six years after that it was destroyed by a fire. During the first half of the […]
Province located in the south of Cuba's eastern region. It has an extension of 6 162,1 sq km (2379 sq mi) and an estimated population of 1 016 754 inhabitants (1996) distributed in 9 municipalities. The province ranks eleventh in extension and second in population. Most of the territory is covered by mountains: those of […]
Bayamo, the capital of Granma was founded in 1513. It was the second village founded in Cuba an was named San Salvador de Bayamo. In the years 1538, 1555, and 1579 it was attacked by pirates and privateers. In the 19th century, the sugar-producing zones of the eastern region of the island occupied vast zones, […]
Province located in the southwest portion of Cuba's eastern region. It has an extension of 8 372 sq km (3232 sq mi) and an estimated population of 819 505 inhabitants (1996). The province ranks sixth in extension and fifth in population. The territory is conformed by two natural regions: the plain of Cauto and the […]
By the port of Bariay, today within the limits of this province, the Great Admiral Christopher Columbus disembarked on October 1492, thus beginning, with the discovery of the Americas, a new era in the history of mankind. Legend has it that the admiral, while setting foot on Cuban soil and amazed at the natural wonders, […]
Province located in the northeast portion of Cuba's eastern region with coasts to the Atlantic Ocean. It has an extension of 9 282,95 sq km (3584 sq mi) and a population of 1 011 761 inhabitants (1996). The province ranks fourth in extension and third in population. This province is limited by the heights of […]
Several stories have been weaved around the founding of this province. Some speak of the arrival of Alonso de Ojeda to the aboriginal village of Cueybá after having wrecked in 1510. He wandered along the coastal marshland carrying an image of Virgin Mary that he rescued from the wreckage. The first village he encountered was […]
Westernmost province in Cuba's eastern region limiting north with Camagüey and the Atlantic Ocean; to the east with Holguín; to the south with Granma and the gulf of Guacanayabo; and to the west with Camagüey. It has an extension of 6 587,8 sq km (2544 sq mi) and an estimated population of 516 795 inhabitants […]
Named Santa María del Puerto Príncipe by the colonizers in 1515, Camagüey was one of the first villages founded by Pánfilo de Narváez during the third stage of the Cuban conquest. Located first in the north coast, where Nuevitas port is located today, the settlers moved later to the south and finally established the city […]
Province located to the eastern end of the central region of Cuba. It has an extension of 15 584,72 sq km (6017 sq mi) and an estimated population of 771 931 inhabitants (1996). The province ranks first in extension and sixth in population. In this province, plains predominate, but not all the land is plain […]
Ciego de Ávila is located in a plain of approximately 6900 sq km (2664 sq mi) of extension. Cattle, sugar cane, and vegetable products are its main natural resources. Linked to the rest of the nation through the Carretera Central, Ciego de Ávila is 442 km (276 mi) away from Havana and possesses modern buildings, […]
Province located in the central region of Cuba. It has an extension of 6761 sq km (2610 sq mi) and an estimated population of 394 499 inhabitants (1996). The province ranks seventh in extension and thirteenth in population. Its capital city is Ciego de Ávila. In this province, carsic plains, like that of Júcaro-Morón, predominate, […]
Sancti Spíritus was one of the first seven towns founded by Spanish conqueror Diego Velázquez in the island. After the founding of Bayamo, the second town, he decided to build that of La Santísima Trinidad and another, which he would call Espíritu Santo (Holy Ghost), around 1514, becoming a new populated area in the site […]
Province located in the central region of Cuba. It has an extension of 6 732,35 sq km (2600 sq mi) and an estimated population of 451 644 inhabitants (1996). The province ranks eighth in extension and twelfth in population. The relief presents a great diversity. In the northern section we find a narrow strip of […]
During the Ten-Year War (1868-1878), Cienfuegos patriots massively joined, since 1869, the Liberation Army and carried out numberless actions along the territory. Later, during the Small War (1879-1880), the Spanish colonial army set up a fortified military line known as "trocha", which extended along the Santo Domingo, Cruces y Ranchuelo populations and which was reutilized […]
Province located on the south coast of Cuba's central region. It has an extension of 4176,7 sq km (1612,6 sq mi) and an estimated population of 384 362 inhabitants (1996). The province ranks thirteenth in extension and fourteenth population. Along this region, plain zones, like Cienfuegos and Manacas plains, predominate. Those plains are located to […]
Founded on July 15,1689 by former inhabitants of the coastal village of San Juan de los Remedios who were getting away from the constants raids by pirates and privateers, Santa Clara is located in the center of the island, reason why it has been addressed with the aboriginal name Cubanacán. Santa Clara was given the […]
Province located in the central region of Cuba. It limits to the north with the Atlantic Ocean, to the east with Sancti Spiritus, to the south with Cienfuegos, and to the west with Matanzas. It has an extension of 8 309,6 sq km (3208 sq mi) and an estimated population of 824 825 inhabitants (1996) […]
