Santiago de Cuba Destination Guide
Magical Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city in Cuba and used to be the capital of the Spanish colony of Cuba from 1522 to 1589. Santiago has a rich history and colorful culture; it is considered the birthplace of “Ron, Son, and Revolucion.” Ron meaning rum, Son meaning song/dance, and Revolucion meaning revolution. Santiago is known as the most Caribbean of Cuban cities; due to its geographic location it has a strong influence from Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It is a bustling city with about 500,000 residents and many attractions/city streets to explore. A recommended time of year to visit Santiago de Cuba is in July during Carnival. The city is even more lively and musical though it is a hot time of year to visit!
Places to See
San Juan Hill – The Battle of San Juan Hill fought on July 1, 1898 was a decisive battle during the Spanish-American War. The fight for the San Juan Heights (another name for San Juan Hill) was the bloodiest and most famous battle of the war. It is also the greatest victory of the Rough Riders written about in American press. The Rough Riders were led by Theodore Roosevelt, who eventually became Vice-President and President of the United States. Today, San Juan Hill is a busy tourist area with several monuments, landmarks, and even a hotel. Cubans tend to describe the war as the Spanish-Cuban-American War since they assisted the Americans.
Antonio Maceo Revolution Square – This large plaza was created to provide Santiago de Cuba with a place for different social, political, and cultural activities. This square is also home to the largest sculpture in Cuba, the Bronze Titan. The statue is 52 ft (16 m) high and it was built to honor the hero Antonio Maceo Grajales. This large monument and square is located at the entrance to the city of Santiago de Cuba.
Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca (Castillo del Morro) – Castillo del Morro is a coastal fortress built in 1637 to protect Santiago De Cuba from pirates. The fortress was partially destroyed while still under construction and then later suffered damage from a series of earthquakes. It seemed that the fortress was continuously under reconstruction. By 1775, the fear of attacks from pirates had diminished and it was then turned into a prison. We have to imagine that the prisoners here had the best views around! The fortress was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, cited as the best preserved and most complete example of Spanish-American military architecture. It is located about 6 miles southwest of the city center and overlooks the bay.
Parque Cespedes – Cespedes Park is considered the soul of Santiago de Cuba. The park is usually filled with Cubans talking, hustling, and having impromptu musical serenades. During our visit, the atmosphere was less musical and more subdued. A memorial with many photos of Fidel Castro was placed in the center of the park to recognize Fidel’s recent death. Around the square you can find the city hall building, Santiago de Cuba Cathedral, and the Hotel Casa Granda. Take the elevator to the top of the hotel to enjoy amazing views of Santiago de Cuba and a drink. 3 CUCs will get you a delicious mojito, great views, and a clean restroom!
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption – Also called the Santiago de Cuba Cathedral, this cathedral is located in Cespedes Park. It is a great church to go inside and view the recent restoration work. The Cathedral was restored in 2014/15 right before the Pope’s visit. It is painted a light color blue that is welcoming and brings out the beauty of the church.
Moncada Barracks – On July 26, 1953 the military barracks, Moncada Barracks, was attacked early in the morning by a small group of revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro. This attack is known as the beginning of the Cuban Revolution. The revolutionaries strategically chose this date because it was during Santiago de Cuba’s Carnival celebrations and they knew the soldiers inside the barracks would be tired from the previous night’s festivities. 26 July became known as the name of Castro’s revolution. Today the building is a school, but there is a museum in the area where the attack took place. The bullet holes on the building were covered up during a restoration, but when tourism increased in Cuba they decided to uncover the holes. Entrance to the museum is 2 CUCs and has many exhibits in Spanish.
Santa Ifigenia Cemetery – An ornate cemetery that holds the remains of Jose Marti and Fidel Castro. It is free to see the boulder where Fidel’s ashes lay, but you must pay to see the rest of the cemetery. An honor guard changes every 20 minutes and an eternal flame burns here. You can hire a guide to learn more about the all of the figures of Cuban history that are buried here.
Exploring Cuba? Be sure to check out our Traveling to Cuba – What You Need to Know Guide and our city guides for Cienfuegos and Havana!
