One of the residents of the city of Sagua la Grande, north of the island of Cuba.
Rarely do you feel the emotion of arriving in a city where practically the entire population – children, the elderly, musicians, vendors – waits in their eagerness to entertain newcomers the Cuban way, where music and dance are the genuine protagonists.
People took to the streets dressed in their best clothes to celebrate the day that the old city of Sagua la Grande, located between the Sierra de Jumagua and the sea, was presented as a new tourist destination in Cuba.
The Palacio de Arenas, a great exponent of Art Nouveau, converted into the Palacio de Arena hotel, in Sagua la Grande.
A SPECIAL DAY FOR SAGUA LA GRANDE
The Minister of Tourism, Manuel Marrero Cruz, master of ceremonies during the visit to Sagua la Grande, reviewed the history of the city, whose historic center was declared a National Heritage in 2011, going back to the origins of this town in the central province of Villa Clara, formerly the province of Las Villas, founded on December 8, 1812 by Juan Caballero.
Sagua la Grande was not particularly involved in the War of Independence, so it enjoyed a brilliant development during the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th: regal neoclassical and art nouveau buildings and it was one of the first towns to develop progress such as the sewage system, the railway, the viaduct and the first telephone network in the center of Cuba.
The first romantic poem in the country, by Francisco Poveda y Armanteros, was written here. was published from the first scientific journal, El Eco de las VIllas, The first lay school, Luz y Verdad, was born and the first political party was formed after the Spanish colonization.
It was one of the first Cuban cities to enjoy electricity, without forgetting its powerful sugar industry, the second in importance in times of the Republic.
Sagua la Grande boasts an artistic spirit, in which several of the most recognized Cuban artists worldwide were born.
CULTURAL COMPLEMENT OF THE KEYS
During the presentation, emphasis was placed on the importance of Sagua la Grande as a cultural complement to the sun and beach destination of nearby Cayo Esquivel, since the city is a nest of native artists, such as the great Cuban painter Wilfredo Lam or Antonio Machín, author of Little Black Angels, El Manisero...
The sublime musician was also born here Rodrigo Pratts, the poet Rosalia Castro and Kid Gavilán, one of the many great boxers the city has produced.
Puente del Triunfo, connection of the banks of the river Undoso and place of walk for the population.
SAGUA LA GRANDE OPENS TO THE OUTSIDE
Marrero also reported on the potential investments of well-known international hotel chains in the city. He took advantage of the event to announce the agreement between the French agency Louvre Hotels and the Cuban company Cubanacán to convert the Spanish Casino into a hotel (one of the most beloved buildings in the city) and recalled how the German agency Thomas Cook has included Sagua la Grande in its winter catalogue.
Also discussed were the works in the Triumph bridge, connection of the banks of the river Undoso and place of stroll of the population, that crosses it to contemplate the course of the flow.
The Sagua or Undoso River, which divides the city, takes its sailors to the port of Isabela de Sagua, while showing them the unusual landscape of its meanders and the curious caves of fluvial origin: the Mogotes de Jumagua.
Banks of the Undoso River along which you navigate to the port of Isabela de Sagua.
NEW TOURIST DESTINATION
After the event, the Minister of Tourism presented Carlos Amaury Figueredo, first secretary of the PCC, and Aurora González Sánchez, president of the government in the northern municipality, with the distinction that makes Sagua la Grande official as a new tourist destination.
And as proof of the beginning of this new stage, the official entourage inaugurated two emblematic and recently restored buildings converted into hotels: the Palacio Arenas, a great exponent of Art Nouveau, and the Hotel Sagua.
In the street the sagüeros had a great time. To the hope of a new future for his city should be added the revelry character enjoyed by the good Cuban and the facility to have fun, qualities that turned that day into a real revelry where rum and beer flowed, they danced to the rhythm of salsa and the Cuban son, they ate suckling pig and corn... There seemed to be nothing more important in the world than the opening of Sagua la Grande to international tourism.
Inaugurated a month ago, the Gran Hotel Sagua, in Sagua la Grande (Cuba).
JOURNEY NOTEBOOK
There are many ways to get to Sagua la Grande, located about 270 kilometers from Havana. By boat from the port of Isabela de Sagua, by train or by road from the beaches of Varadero, passing near the hot springs of Elguea and the Corralillo campsites. Also from the city of Santa Clara, prelude to the keys of Santa María, Las Brujas and Ensenachos. More information at: www.cubatravel.cu
The residents of Sagua la Grande waited to entertain the newcomers.
One of the residents of Sagua la Grande during the event.