A Cuba City Guide - Matanzas

Located on the banks of the San Juan River, on thebridges are part of the National Patrimony due to the
northern coast of Cuba approximately 55 miles awaytechnologies used during its construction. The city is
from Havana, Matanzas City was founded onalso known as the Venice of Cuba; the channels
October 12, 1693, although it is known that thisaround the city were of a paramount importance
territory had been populated since 1510,during the 19th century, and because of the
approximately when the aboriginal people living theredevelopment of an unusual cultural and intellectual
assaulted and killed a group of Spaniards. Thismovement there, many people began to call it the
historical fact is very relevant because even thoughAthens of Cuba.
the conquest and colonization of Cuba had not yetAmong the main attractions in Matanzas there is the
begun, this bloody action gave the name to theSauto Theater, a jewel of the Italian architect Daniele
region. The settling in the village was a directDell'Aglio, where very important figures in show
consequence of the occupation of the New Spanishbusiness have performed, such as Sarah Bernhardt,
fleet by the Dutch admiral Pieter Hein in 1628. Due toballet dancer Anna Pavlova and guitar player
its closeness to Havana and its magnificent open bay,Andrés Segovia. The pharmaceutical Museum
Matanzas had become the area ideal for a maritimeErnesto Triolet is another one, an old drugstore
haven.founded in 1882 that still preserves the shelves of
It was also necessary to stop the smuggling ofprecious woods; and an impressive collection of
woods, furs and dried meat by the English, Dutch,bottles, labels, and old tools used to make the
and French sailors, as well as pirates and privateersmedicine during the 19th century.
during that time. They came inland to look for theirThe danzón, considered the national dance of Cuba,
food supplies or for careening their vessels. That iswas born in Matanzas. This rhythm developed into
why the word buccaneer came to life; they werewhat is today known as son or salsa. The first
not pirates but smugglers.danzón was entitled "Las Alturas de Simpson" and
The vast richness of the aboriginal culture that existswas composed by Miguel Faílde who adapted in a
still in Matanzas province makes it a privileged land,Cuban way the European contredanse.
and subject to constant research being carried out;The visitor arrives in Matanzas on a modern highway
because only in this way thousands of years ofthat skirts the northern coast of Havana and passes
history accumulated underground will see the light. Itby many places with amazing views of incalculable
is estimated that this region was one of the firstbeauty, like the ones that can be enjoyed from the
populated by Cuban natives. The history of theBacunayagua Bridge (the highest and longest in Cuba)
aboriginal communities in Matanzas has records of thewhere the Yumurí Valley opens, showing hundreds
Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods, especiallyof thousands of Royal palm trees. Another option to
around the courses of the rivers Yaití, Camarioca,arrive there is less comfortable but very colourful,
and Canimar; the latter can be visited on excursionswhich is to travel by the Hershey train, the last
that depart from Matanzas City, Havana City andelectric train that still works on the island. It departs
Varadero.everyday from Casablanca, on the east bank of the
Matanzas is called the city of the bridges because ofHavana Bay, covering in three and half hours the
the large number of them crossing over the riversdistance between Havana and Matanzas City.
Yumurí and San Juan. A great number of those