CubaPLUS Magazine

The foundational city of Santiago de Cuba, which celebrates its 510th anniversary on July 25th, holds an immense wealth of architectural, historical, and musicaldance traditions, along with the unique character of its people—qualities that have earned it the reputation of being a city of solidarity, hospitality, rebellion, and heroism.

On this topic, architect Omar López, Director of the Office of the City Conservator, spoke exclusively with CubaPLUS Magazine.

The Advantages of Its Geographic Location “Santiago de Cuba has many elements that give it a unique identity. Located in the insular Caribbean, its geographic position closely connects it to the Greater Antilles—Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica— forming a strategic center within the region. This is why Cubans, especially the people of Santiago, often call it the most Caribbean of all Cuban cities.

“The first encounters between the Spanish and the island of Cuba took place precisely in the eastern region. The adelantado (pioneer) Diego Velázquez was commissioned with founding Cuba’s first settlements, and Santiago de Cuba became the seventh of these.”

The City’s Location and Its Harmonious Architecture “There was great wisdom in choosing its founding site.

Santiago is nestled at the end of an impressive bay, surrounded by a mountain range that forms part of the city’s landscape, stretching between the Caribbean Sea and the Sierra
Maestra Mountains.

“This scenery embodies the very essence of Santiago—the deep connection between the city and its natural surroundings. It is a city of viewpoints; from any window, one can admire the mountainous terrain. The city rises from the bay like an amphitheater with multiple levels, and its undulating streets add to this distinctive image. Walking through Santiago is an experience like no other—it has a special rhythm, a unique flavor.”

A Unique Urban Structure “One of its most important spaces is what was once the Plaza Mayor, the Plaza de la Constitución or the Plaza de la Reina, today Parque Céspedes.

Here, two of the city’s most significant buildings since its founding still stand: the City Hall and the Parroquial Mayor, now the Cathedral.

“The city’s network of streets, alleys, and passageways follows the Laws of the Indies, as does its Plaza Mayor. Additionally, it features a building that Santiago’s people recognize
as the Casa de Velázquez, a residence that began construction during the time of the city’s founder and may have even been inhabited by him.

“This extraordinary structure, built around an interior courtyard, foreshadows the architectural style of the criollo houses that would later prevail in Cuba. The Cathedral also has a remarkable distinction—it houses the oldest painting in Cuba, a miraculous artwork once carried in processions to pray for rain. Visitors can still admire it inside the church, where Cuban music was also born, thanks to the works of Esteban Salas.”

Santiago’s Distinct Flavor in Cuba’s Cultural Stew “The city was built on land originally inhabited by the island’s indigenous people.

Very early on, the first Africans arrived in Santiago, blending with the Spanish and indigenous populations to create a rich cultural mix. Later, following the Haitian Revolution, the city saw an influx of French settlers, and the Chinese arrived to work in the sugar industry.


“Santiago embraced this diverse heritage, which shaped many of its greatest cultural contributions, especially in music. This is the birthplace of Trío Matamoros and their iconic ‘Son de la Loma,’ as well as the boleros of Pepe Sánchez— credited as the genre’s creator— and Sindo Garay. It was already a Creative City of Music long before UNESCO officially recognized it as such in 2021.

“This same cultural evolution gave rise to the city’s famous Carnival, the Tumba Francesa— an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity—as well as the Conga de Los Hoyos and numerous other dance and music traditions. Many of these were born from cabildos (mutual aid societies), made up of enslaved and freed African descendants, such as the century-old Carabalí Olugo and Isuama brotherhoods.”

Heritage of Knowledge and Flavors “Santiago is also the birthplace of light rum, a story intertwined with the history of sugar production, distillation, and the legendary Bacardí family.

They developed, through careful refinement, a smooth, palatable spirit that quickly captivated the world, becoming one of the most iconic and widely consumed liquors today.

“UNESCO has recognized the mastery of light rum production as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, preserving the ancestral knowledge and traditions of its makers. Among Santiago’s legendary rums are Matusalén, Castillo, Paticruzado, and the renowned Ron Santiago.”

The City as a Tourist Destination “Santiago has much to offer as a high-value tourist destination, with six extraordinary cultural landscapes, including:

• Castillo del Morro San Pedro de la Roca – A colonial fortress guarding the bay’s entrance, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• La Isabelica – A historic coffee plantation, part of the Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the Southeast of Cuba, created by French immigrants from Haiti.

• El Cobre – A site of cultural and spiritual significance, home to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity and the first copper mines in the Americas. This area is deeply linked to the history of slavery, leading UNESCO to establish the Monument to the Cimarrón there, in tribute to runaway slaves.

• Underwater Heritage – The shipwrecks from the 1898 naval battle that ended the Spanish- Cuban-American War.

• Santa Ifigenia Cemetery – A funerary landscape known as the Altar of the Homeland, where Cuba’s founding figures rest: Carlos Manuel de Céspedes (Father of the Nation), José Martí (National Hero), Mariana Grajales (Mother of the Nation), and Fidel Castro Ruz (Historic Leader of the Cuban Revolution).

All these elements make a visit to Santiago an unforgettable experience— its streets, its historicurban landscape, and its surrounding areas form a visual and auditory spectacle.

The legendary light rum enhances this blend of traditions, but what truly defines Santiago is the character of its people—their warmth, their hospitality, and their indomitable spirit. This is a city that lives and breathes in rhythm with time.”