Suite Cuba

Cementerio Santa Ifigenia La Gran Piedra Santuario Nacional de La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca (El Morro de Santiago)

Santiago de Cuba

Capital of the province of the same name, was founded in 1514. Santiago is renowned for two characteristics that make it unique: its friendly people and the wealth of its culture and history. Santiago de Cuba is, thanks to its cordial people, music and history a very special city not only in Cuba but in the Caribbean also. Unlike any other area of the country, races and culture mix and enrich this Cultural Capital of the Caribbean , as it's also known.

Besides the city's beauty, you will love the natural landscape and the beaches of singular exoticism open to the Caribbean Sea on the southern coast of Cuba .

The people of Santiago are typically proud of belonging to the only ¨Hero City of Cuba¨ a title received as recognition of the extraordinary contribution of its citizens to almost 100 years of struggles for independence and freedom.

Culture

With a rich historical background, Santiago de Cuba is the setting for two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: San Pedro de la Roca Castle (El Morro) and the ruins of the first French coffee plantation in Cuba at La Gran Piedra park.

There are many reasons for the citizens of Santiago to be proud of their heritage; their city is the birthplace of most of Cuban musical genres, as the Cuban Son and the Traditional Cuban Trova. Every July Santiago holds its carnival, which is the most spectacular on the island, its rum; the famous festival Known as the Fiesta del Caribe or Fiesta del Fuego (Festival of Fire) that fill the city with rhythm and colour. There are other festivals too, such as the International Festival of Choirs, and the Son Festival Miguel Matamoros.

Location

The province is bordered on the north by Holguín, to west by Granma, to the east by Guantanamo and to the south by the Caribbean Sea .

Population

Over a million people live in the province (9.1 % of the country's total population). Santiago is the second largest city in Cuba .

Climate

Average annual temperature: 25 - 30º Celsius (on the flat areas)

16 - 25º Celsius in the (mountains)

Beyond the statistics, Santiago is famous for its warn temperatures during the whole year.

Geographical location

The province limits with Holguín to the north, Granma to the west, Guantánamo to the east and the Caribbean Sea to the south.

Accommodations

Santiago de Cuba has many lodging options open to the travellers. The most famed hotels in the city are Casa Granda, Versalles and Melía Santiago. Many others good hotels are located in sites of unquestionable natural beauty that surrounds the city as the Parks of Baconao and la Gran Piedra (the great stone).

Nevertheless in order to be in direct contact with locals and touch the hospitable of this remarkable people you should lodge among them. In this site you will find a large list of private accommodations ¨casa particular¨.

Recommended places in Santiago :

Make a walked tour around the city. Walk as much as you can and make sure you visit the following places in the city:.

Céspedes Park

Plaza de Marte

Pedro Pico Street (a street formed by steps)

Enramadas Street "Heart of Santiago)

Plaza de la Revolución Antonio Maceo

Cemetery of Santa Ifigenia

Museum Bacardí (the eldest of Cuba)

Cuartel Moncada, which was attacked on July 26th, 1953 by a group of young of the "Generation of the Centenary" commanded by Fidel Castro.

Factory of Rum

House of Cuban cigars (Habanos)

Casa de la Trova (House of the Trova) cradle of the best tradition of the Cuban Trova and the Son Hours: 7:30 p.m. a 9:30 p.m. Calle Heredia No. 208, Santiago de Cuba.

In the surroundings of the city you should visit the following places:

Hill of Puerto Boniato, from the peak you will enjoy a superb view of Santiago.

Town, beach and y fruit trees of El Caney. Located a few kilometres of the centre of the city.

La Gran Piedra. (The great stone)

Baconao Park (within it: The Museum of Transportation, The Valley of Prehistory, the Artistic community, the aquarium and the lake of Baconao.

The Cobre basilica. Just a few Kilometres of the city is situated this basilica where our Lady of Charity of Cobre (Cuba 's patron saint) is worshipped. The sanctuary is located on the same area where the first American open cast cooper mine of the Americas was exploited.

Castle of San Pedro de la Roca (El Morro)

Cayo Granma at the centre of the beautiful Bay of Santiago

Cabarets night clubs.

Cabaret Tropicana Santiago.: Seasonal spectacle and dinners. (km 1 ½ Autopista Nacional. Telephones.: 687020. Fax: 68 7090)

Cabaret San Pedro del Mar. Seasonal spectacle and dinners. (Carretera del Morro km 7 ½. Telephones.: 6 9 1287, 6 9 2373)

Discoteca Club Tropical. Hours: 11:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m. (km 1 ½ Autopista Nacional, Cabaret Tropicana. Telephones.: 68 7020)

Discoteca - Karaoke Club La Iris. Hours:10:00 a.m. - 4: 00 p.m. (matinée) 10:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m. (nocturno). (Calle Aguilera No. 617, e/ Barnada y Paraíso. Telephones.: 65 4910)

Discoteca - Karaoke Club La Iris. Hours:10:00 a.m. - 4: 00 p.m. (matinée) 10:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m. (nocturno). (Calle Aguilera No. 617, e/ Barnada y Paraíso. Telephones.: 65 4910)

Club 300. (Boleros, ballades, and live music) Hours: 7:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m.(Aguilera e/ San Pedro y San Félix. Telephones.: 65 3532)

Casa de las Tradiciones Populares (Cuban Son, traditional trova, boleros, poems, plastic arts and photography exposures.) Hours: 3:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. La Casona. Barriada del Tivolí.

Casa de la Música (House of the music). Cuban music (live and recorded). From Monday to Friday: Hours: from 10:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. live Cuban music. (Calle Corona e/ Aguilera y Enramada. Telephones.: 65 222 / 65 2243).

Patio de Artex. Live traditional Cuban music, hours: From 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. (Calle Heredia No. 300 e/ Carnicería y Calvario. Telephones.: 65 4814).

Patio de Los Dos Abuelos. Live traditional Cuban music, Cuban son and boleros. From 9:30 p.m. until midnight. (Calle Pérez Carbó No. 5, in front of Plaza de Marte. Telephones.: 62 3302 / 62 3267).

Cabaret Rancho Club. (Hotel El Rancho Carretera Central km 4 ½, Alturas de Quintero, Santiago de Cuba. Telephones.: (53226) 63 3202 / 63 3280 / 6 3 3565 / 63 2631 / 63 3940)

Salón Rojo de Versalles. Altura de Versalles, km 1, Santiago de Cuba. Telephones.: (53 226) 691016 / 686145 / 686245.

La Maisón. (House of fashion) Ave. Manduley. Vista Alegre. Telephones.: 643449.