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Santiago de Cuba
In the lovely natural setting of its sheltered harbour, Cuba’s second city (population 440,100) can trace the country’s colourful history in its monuments and reflect the diversity of its peoples by a vibrant modern cultural life. For centuries, Santiago de Cuba’s chief source of revenue came from its activity as Cuba’s main trading port for African slaves. Afro-Cubans and mulattos are still in greater evidence here than in any other major Cuban town. Added to this, the mixture of American-Indian, French, Span ish and Chinese influences ac counts for the often remarkable physical beauty of its men and women. And, as performed by such groups as the Ballet Folk lórico Cutumba, the diversity of music and dance Afro-Cuban and otherwise—guaganco, tajona, conga oriental and, imported by French refugees from Haiti, the tumba francesa. Only architecturally does the dominant influence remain Spanish colonial. Santiago de Cuba has always played a special role in Cuban history. The town was governor Diego Velázquez’s choice as cap ital a year after its foundation in 1514. Hernán Cortés, Conquistador of Mexico, began his career as the city’s first mayor. In modem times, it was the city that launched Cuba on the roads to independence and revolution. General Antonio Maceo, who fought in both 19th-century wars of independence, was born in Santiago de Cuba. Fidel Castro’s first attack on Batista’ s forces on July 26, 1953 was launched against the city’s Moncada Bar racks. Thereafter, citizens gave his movement open and clandestine support during the guerrilla struggle and it was here, on New Year’s Day, 1959, that Castro came to make his first public statement on the success of the revolution. Like Leningrad in the Soviet Union, Santiago de Cuba has been dubbed the nation’s Heroic City.
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