The province of Granma, province of eastern Cuba, shows in its geography some urban centers of historical significance, like Bayamo with a guarantee that already exceeds the five centuries. The city, the current capital of the territory, was precisely the second town founded by the Spanish Diego Velázquez in the archipelago.
San Salvador de Bayamo was the original name of the city arising in 1513, preceded only by Our Lady of the Assumption of Baracoa, and followed by five other major towns more during the advance toward the west of the island. The villa was a center of the political power of the island, because in it lay foundries of gold and supply point of vital importance to ensure the conquest of land. The name of Bayamo has two possible sources, one of them is the option of taking the qualifier from the name of the “cacique” who led in the area. Meanwhile, a second variant considers the existence of Bayam, tree of wisdom, leafy and good shade, characteristic of the region. Linked to this, has in its favor the attractiveness of having been the capital of the First Republic in Arms during the independence movement of the XIX century, and the decision of their inhabitants of got on fire before delivering it into the hands of the colonialists.
Bayamo also boasts unique items, because in the city there is the first cemetery to open sky in Cuba, and possibly in Latin America. In addition, the Parish Church greater San Salvador de Bayamo, which was partly destroyed by the fire of 1869, and was rebuilt . It is the only religious temple on the island that looks in its interior a mural with patriotic content.
The city also served as the stage for the first rebellious actions for the sake of independence and it sang the National Anthem. The traditions support the popularity of the city, and many of the tourists that toward her travel make it stimulated by a popular song of the decade of the 80, where it refers to the habit of travel in car pulled by horses through the narrow streets of the city. For this ritual their inhabitants use carts similar to the colonial old cars pulled by horses thanks to a movement of artisans that preserves the art of building this means of transportation, subject of course to the characteristics of its original design.
The cuban rhythms, in particular those that predominate in the middle of the island, are open to the taste of the visitors in the evenings of the Casa de la Trova, with the best exponents of this art in the territory.
Plus all of the above must be added the attractions of the historical center, where you will find the Birthplace of Cespedes - Headquarters of a colonial museum-, the square of the Anthem and the Cathedral of Bayamo. Also, the memories are preserved in the so-called Altarpiece of the Heroes, the former convent of Santo Domingo - transformed today into a theater- and the former barracks.
|