| Manzanillo is a little remote city compared to the large | | | | Hospital was finished in 1853 and in 1857, the fire |
| cultural centers in Cuba; however, it is quiet and | | | | department was created and the region obtained |
| interesting to visit for the charm of its bay and the | | | | from the highest authority the title of "city" with the |
| mountains surrounding it. It's a city full of history and | | | | dictate of "unconquered". From then on, the city's |
| with many places to know. Life in Manzanillo has been | | | | development and growth was safe and continuous, |
| marked by the ocean. Since very early, the | | | | with no major ups or downs during its evolution until |
| inhabitants of the island have felt the sea's proximity | | | | the decade of 1940. |
| and influence in the development of their lives, which | | | | Manzanillo was also the scene of the events narrated |
| in a way has defined the Cuban character and | | | | in the first classic literary piece of Cuba, Espejo de |
| behavior. People in this city have a different lifestyle, | | | | Paciencia, written by Silvestre de Balboa. Around the |
| whose spirit depends, to a large extent, on the sea's | | | | city, many historic events took place as well. Among |
| rhythmic chain. | | | | them, there was the burning of the indigenous |
| Its official history begins with the construction of the | | | | cacique, Hatuey, by the Spaniards in the town of |
| first house in 1784 by Mr. José Nazareno de León | | | | Yara, the same place where on October 10, 1868 the |
| in the fields of the ancient indigenous regions of | | | | Calls of Yara (El Grito de Yara) were shouted for the |
| Macaca and Guacanayabo, and its first name was | | | | Independence of Cuba. In the outskirts of the city, |
| Puerto Real. However, it's been proposed that the | | | | the Demajagua ranch is located, where the patriot |
| town has existed since much earlier for many vessels | | | | Carlos M. de Céspedes freed his slaves and invited |
| went to that harbor before its foundation to be | | | | them to fight for Cuba's liberation and sovereignty in |
| loaded with woods and fruit from that region and | | | | 1868. |
| from Bayamo, which means there existed a | | | | Manzanillo also played an important role in the support |
| permanent community, even though it could be small. | | | | given to the Rebels and Fidel Castro during the war |
| In 1792, the French privateers of the West Indies | | | | of the 50s in the 20th century, leading to the defeat |
| made excursions into the area and the Captain | | | | of the tyrant Batista and to the settlement of the |
| General, Las Casas, ordered the construction of a | | | | Cuban Revolution. Celia Sánchez Manduley was born |
| fortified redoubt with 4 pieces of artillery. He | | | | in this city. She was a heroine in the Sierra Maestra |
| strengthened the security in the area bringing militias | | | | and Fidel's secretary till her death in 1981. |
| and gunners from Bayamo. The privateers and | | | | Apart from the wonderful sight of the Bay, Manzanillo |
| smugglers' raids determined the effective and ruled | | | | owns numerous colonial and eclectic buildings of a high |
| colonization of the rising town. | | | | historical and architectural value. Parque Céspedes |
| In 1805 a church was raised, dedicated Our Lady of | | | | highlights among them with its Morisco square, as well |
| Conception (Nuestra Señora de la Concepción). By | | | | as the Neo-Classical church of the Purísima |
| then, the population increased to 300 souls. The first | | | | Concepción, the 1906 Café, and the City Hall. |
| church was declared parochial in 1821. The Charity | | | | |