Imposing though it is, the cathedral of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is but part of a broader picture in Parque Céspedes , a square which, although relatively small, bursts with animation. Its street life is one of beautiful young people, itinera..

Sober lines enlivened by a superb mozoarabic loggia emphasise the Andalusian inspiration of this building, constructed in 1516 and the ancestor of all Cuba’s colonial residences. Inside, the Museo de Ambiente Histórico Cubano is an interior decorato..

Rich in cultural activities, this is one of the liveliest streets in the town. On Saturdays, it is virtually impossible to make headway; come dusk, the young Santiagueros converge here in crowds around the Casa de la Trova , a modest-looking build..

This museum will inspire visitors to return to Santiago in July to participate in the carnival. Its history is traced using photos, press cuttings, models, costumes, flags, cabezones (large heads in papier mache), along with instruments used in the..

Santiago’s first republican mayor, Emilio Bacardí, wanted to remind the locals of Cuba’s cultural richness. His museum is split into three sections (history, fine arts, archaeology) and has items from further afield too, Bacardí donated a host of obj..

This elongated pretty square in the colonial style is the preferred meeting point for young Santiagueros . On its north side are renovated buildings housing new but empty restaurants. On the other side, the Café La Isabelica is by contrast always ..

On the slopes of a hillside descending towards the bay, this district has a laid-back ambience. Workshops abound, their activities spilling out onto the street at the foot of houses with bright façades. Stroll along Calle Padre Pico , one of the mos..

This barracks became part of revolutionary legend with the unsuccessful attack upon it of 26 July 1953. The bullet holes visible in the façade, however, are not original. Inside the fortifications, there is now a school and this museum, dedicated to ..

Established in 1868, this huge graveyard (6ha) is the resting place of many patriots killed during the wars of independence and the revolution. The most important characters in the history of Cuba, and especially that of the Oriente region, lie in th..

This vast esplanade can accommodate 20 000 people. At the centre, a huge statue of Antonio Maceo waves the people on to join battle. This monument made from 23 iron bars representing machetes evokes 23 March 1878, the date of the Protesta de Barag..

Also known as Castillo San Pedro de la Roca, Castillo del Moro was built above the bay of Santiago in the 17C to protect the town from pirate attack. Today it offers a fine view over the bay and the Sierra Maestra. Now fully restored, this Unesco Wor..

From the 1 234m summit of Gran Piedra there is an all-round view over the Parque Nacional de Baconao. A biosphere nature reserve, this 80 000ha park covers one side of the Sierra Maestra down to the sea. Among its attractions of interest are: the f..

Not to be confused with his cousin José María de Heredia Girard, Cuban romantic poet José María de Heredia was born in this 18C house on 31 December 1803. This museum traces the work of the poet, best known for his ode to Niagara and honours his pr..

Cuba has no shortage of heroes, and here is another, a son of Santiago whose feats of arms earned him the nickname the bronze titan (also an allusion to his mixed-race ancestry), who was killed in 1896. His house, a typical 19C residence, is a shri..