Bayamo

The town of Bayamo is the capital of Granma Province.   Bayamo’s name has two possible sources: a trend suggests that the term took the name of the Cacique who was leading in the area, but most think it is due to the existence of the Bayam, a Tree of Knowledge.

History

San Salvador de Bayamo was the second city founded in Cuba on November 5^th 1513 by Diego Velazquez.  Iznaga Francisco, a wealthy landowner in Basque settled in eastern Cuba during the first decades of colonization of the island and was elected alderman of the town of Bayamo in 1540.  Iznaga was from a powerful family that eventually settled in Trinidad and Sancti Spiritus on the central South Island.

Their descendants were autonomist and defended the cause of annexation to the United States in the middle decades of the nineteenth century.  Due to the sailing conditions on the Bayamo River, the town flourished quickly, on par with Santiago de Cuba, the then capital of the colony.  By the nineteenth century, Bayamo was evidence of Cuban independence development.  They began development of the movement on October 10^th.

The Cubans organized Masonic Lodges in order to conspire against the Spanish government without raising suspicion.  In this city, the capital of Granma province, Cuba’s national anthem was first sung on October 20^th 1868.  In the city, was built the flag of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, today, the flag of the Popular Power National Assembly.

Even today, the Cubans sing “To battle, Bayamo rush ….”  It was the first capital of the Republic in Arms, ten days after the Demajagua.  On January 12^th 1869 its inhabitants preferred to burn the city rather than deliver it to the Spanish colonial army, which constitutes one of the most momentous in the history of Cuba.

It is the birthplace of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, the Father of the Nation.  In the center of the city is a museum with a few belongings and documents of the renowned patriot.  Also displayed is the El Cubano Libre, the first independent newspaper published by Cespedes.

In the later stages of the struggle for national liberation, the Bayamese were integrated, and many achieved high ranks in the Liberation Army.  During the Republican era, Gerardo Machado chose this city as one of the main points of his public works project, including it in the national main road.

Being a key point in communication for Santiago de Cuba, it was seized by the Young Generation of the Centenary, led by Fidel Castro, and who chose the main military barracks in the city to be attacked on 26^th July 1953.

In the last stage of struggle for the Castro revolution, Bayamo stood greatly in the underground movement, being one of the cities closest to the Sierra Maestra, and becoming a hotbed of attacks and demonstrations.  Since the Cuban revolution of power, Bayamo continued its development and became the second largest city in the Cauto region, after the city of Manzanillo.

In 1976, due to the new political and administrative division, it was declared capital of the province of Granma.  In 1982, on the occasion of the award to the Headquarters of Granma, July 26^th (national emulation of the country) was the inauguration of the Plaza de la Patria, a monumental architectural which had been remodelled and enlarged.

Both events were chaired by Fidel Castro. The Bayamese, have always been characterized by their love for the city and its memory.  Still preserved in the city, (and more than a tourist attraction), are hundreds of horse-drawn carriages that embellish and reveal the colonial traditions that remain valid today. Historic sites in Bayamo constitute a strong tourist attraction.

Architecture

In the center of the city are predominant nineteenth-century buildings, although many have since been replaced by other buildings. The igelsia of San Salvador de Bayamo, originally built in 1613 and the Chapel of Dolores (1740) are examples of many remaining colonial architecture.

In Central Park, the city’s main park, there is located on the granite floor, two statues of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, father of the Cuban Nation, who began the struggle for independence on the grounds of Manzanillo.

There is also, by Perucho Figueredo who composed the national anthem of Cuba, “the battle of Bayamo rush …”.   Another example of colonial architecture is the former home of Perucho Figueredo, architecture adapted and is the main building of the Post, including a cafe and communications services such as international telephone facilities.