In Camagüey

Camagüey is located almost in the center of the province of Camagüey, at the confluence of two small rivers and Hatibonico Tínima. It was founded with the title of Villa with the name of Santa María del Puerto del Principe in place now since 1528, although it is known that it was built 14 years ago on the north coast, at a point near the existing port Nuevitas. In 1903 the city takes its present name of Camaguey. It has a modern ring and the international airport Ignacio Agramonte, one of the best in Cuba. It is a city of high values, so we recommend you first quickly find a place to stay if you have not done what was advised in the previous article. Rest and then proceed to visit the city. The hotels available in the area are the Islazul Gran Hotel (three stars), the Hotel Islazul Camagüey (two stars), the Columbus Hotel Islazul (two stars), the island of Cuba Islazul Hotel (two stars), the Hotel Islazul Plaza ( two stars) and the Hotel Islazul Puerto Principe (two stars). As part of Old Havana and its Fortifications, Havana, the Morro de Santiago de Cuba and Trinidad and the Valley of the Mills, Camagüey, in particular the Urban Historic Centre was declared a World Heritage Site on 2 February of 2009.

According to renowned experts, (Gomez, L. et al., 2006), this center is the largest in Cuba, it has approximately 10 000 buildings, located in 320 blocks, which occupy an area of ​​approximately 300 hectares. For lovers of architecture and buildings from another era in acceptable condition, a city tour will be unforgettable. Looking at the map of the city observed a curious phenomenon in the layout of its streets, something unique not only in Cuba but also in Latin: they both common as street alleyways, do not form a regular pattern and harmony, but it is very sinuous, intertwined, by way of a maze or a broken crockery in multiple pieces. The predominant route of irregular blocks. This entails that there is an increased interior space, the seat of many churches present in the city. The conservation of these values ​​in this city was made possible by its isolation, its slow growth and lack of controls in your neighborhood. Is typical of the coexistence of numerous city squares and plazas between the fabric of streets and narrow cobbled streets. To the above must be added the mix of architectural styles and numerous churches located in the squares and located between the districts.

Hence the name which is also known in this city: the city of churches.

It is true that states that the city is colonial, but in reality only 8% of the properties have this feature (arches, pilasters truncated brace eaves, roofs jars and armor), while the appearance eclecticism prevails . It turns out that the interior of a building is old, while the outside has more modern. In other words, what prevails outside the twentieth century eclecticism. The city center is within the historic center, an issue of great benefit from the functional point of view, animation and activity, since it carried out major urban functions. Predominates in the historic center section of street and sidewalk, so the streets are narrow alleys in particular (narrow streets and short). The streets and alleys sometimes expand, giving rise to expansions which are highly representative buildings, usually chaired by churches. Very typical in the historic center is open spaces, plazas and squares, no green. However, seen from the air inside of buildings for private use much space, very green (inner garden).

In these courts is still possible to observe large earthen vessels, the Andalusian-style, to store rainwater. This is unique in this province of Cuba. At the same jars are called. Hence, it is also call the city: the City of Tinajones. Walking through the historic center is an unforgettable experience, because due to its typical urban structure vision encompasses a large space and you can admire different urban spaces, many of which include a church or convent. To begin to walk, then we recommend starting in the Plaza Mayor, or the old Plaza de Armas and today also called Parque Ignacio Agramonte. In the city there are five main squares, and this is one of them. From here, and arranged in the 4 cardinal points, you can easily reach the other four places: La Merced, San Francisco, San Juan de Dios and El Carmen, in each of which there is a church. The last two places retain their original colonial atmosphere: the first is the most characteristic square and has the most representative urban complex of the past, while in the second the church has two towers, something very rare in the interior of Cuba.

The seats are highly recommended to design an itinerary to visit the city, for in them is common to find residents and visitors resting, reunited with friends or walking the streets. The latter are used for communication between the squares, where sections are the parks, the only green space within the city, except the so-called Casino Campestre, the only large green area of ​​the city. If you want to enjoy the tranquility of resting or reading in an environment of greenery and privacy, we recommend looking for a rental house in this area, as in the inner courtyards abundant vegetation. Ten secondary squares (Maceo, La Soledad, La Caridad, El Cristo, Santa Ana, Mendez, Havana, Whereabouts, the Theatre, San Jose), six churches, and seven squares (The Five Corners? Angel, Bedoya, Triana, Painter, San Clemente, Juana Castillo and Avellaneda), make it interesting to visit in this city. From a cultural visit there are numerous sites worth knowing. Among the museums you should visit the Museo Casa Natal Nicolas Guillen, Cuba's national poet, besides the museums related to the life and work of Mayor Ignacio Agramonte y Loynaz, the most important figure for the deeds of the independence of Cuba and from from a prominent family in the area.

These museums are three: one is the Birthplace Museum Ignacio Agramonte, a beautiful eighteenth century building whose courtyard is a typical representative example of the colonial court at that time. Another is the Museo Provincial Ignacio Agramonte, also built in a XVIII century building, where one can admire furniture and objects of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The other museum is the Quinta Simoni, wife of Ignacio Agramonte. We also recommend you visit the Museum of Najasa. The construction itself is not to display something, but it is a hilly area with abundant petrified remains of trees. It is a truly impressive natural site. After being in this city is proposed to head north and enjoy Playa Santa Lucia, a distance of 110 km. But you are advised to stay in Nuevitas before to visit two places of interest. The next articles will guide you.