Special Remarks

Naturally, this list includes the first seven settlements founded by the Spanish conquistadors: Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Baracoa (founded in 1512 and now known as Baracoa), San Salvador de Bayamo (founded in 1513 and now known as Bayamo), Santísima Trinidad (founded in 1514 and now known as Trinidad), Sancti Spíritus (founded in 1514), Santiago de Cuba (founded in 1515), San Cristóbal de La Habana (founded in 1519 and now known as Havana) and Santa María del Puerto del Príncipe (founded in 1514 by Governor Diego Velázquez at Guincho Point, in the Bay of Nuevitas, and moved twice before it wound up in its present location, between the Tínima and Hatibonico Rivers, and now known as Camagüey).

Old Havana has the largest system of fortifications in Latin America and is the only historic center in the region whose public squares, fortresses and mansions are in architectural styles dating from the 17th through 20th centuries.

UNESCO has declared it to be a part of world heritage. It is famous all over the world thanks to and is still going on in a large area, which has restored colonial-era architectural gems to their original appearance. The cultural values conserved in the original part of Trinidad the best-preserved colonial city in the Americas and Sugarmill Valley , both of which UNESCO has declared a part of world heritage, are unique in Cuba .

Trinidad 's cobblestone streets are bordered by old seigniorial beautiful churches; and public squares, among which Main Square , surrounded by buildings of great beauty and historic and architectural interest, is particularly outstanding. It is considered one of the most important squares in Cuba , second only to Havana 's Cathedral Square The original settlement of Trinidad covers 55 blocks and contains more than 1200 buildings. Nearby Sugarmill Valley which contains the ruins of many sugar mills, “big houses,” machinery and other vestiges of its heyday, in the 19th century is of both historic and archaeological interest. Here, you can see the Manaca-Iznaga Tower , from whose cupola, 131 feet (40 meters) up, overseers used to keep an eagle eye on the slaves. And Camagüey The original settlement the largest in Cuba , covering 313 hectares is the only one in the country that was deliberately designed with narrow, winding streets which form a labyrinth. The streets fan out from public squares in spider webs meant to foil the pirates and corsairs who used to make frequent attacks on the settlement.

Both Camagüey and Trinidad have important pottery industries. Camagüey is famous for its large earthenware jars; its houses with large windows, front doors studded with ornamental nails, and postern gates; and very old churches and public squares. It also contains the narrowest street in the country and has a vast patrimony in the decorative arts.

S antiago de Cuba is impressive because of the Andalusian- Mudejar influence in many of its wooden balconies; the San Pedro de la Roca Castle, the military fortress with the most beautiful Renaissance touches in the Americas (which has been declared a part of world heritage); its cathedral, in which the baroque, Neoclassical and eclectic styles are combined; and its public buildings and mansions that were built in the 19th and 20 th centuries.

During the four centuries since Sancti Spíritus was founded, it has become known for the diverse styles of its buildings; its Main Square ; its Main Parish Church ; and the bridge over the Yayabo River (built in 1831), with its five Roman arcades the only ones in Cuba and solid structure made from bricks and lime-and-sand mortar. Remedios, in Villa Clara Province , is another colonial architectural gem nearly 500 years old. Its Main Parish Church dates from the 16th century. Cienfuegos , a more modern city, has a geometric, Neoclassical atmosphere which comes from its having been founded by French settlers in the 19th century