Through San José de las Lajas, in Mayabeque

Very close to Havana, just over 30 kilometers to the southeast, lies San José de las Lajas. Crossed by the Central Highway and also close to the National Thruway, this city is the capital of the municipality of the same name and the provincial capital of Mayabeque.

However, its history is much older than that of the province in which it currently sits, one of the two youngest in Cuba, barely 15 years old.

Don Quijote de la Mancha Park, in San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

Old railway station in San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

Popularly known as San José, the origins of this town date back to the colonial period. Although there were indigenous settlements in the area before, and later, ranches and haciendas were established during the colonial period, the town did not begin to take shape until the end of the 18th century.

The construction of a grocery store at a point on the road that connected Havana with Güines, and later the construction of a church, favored the settlement of residents in the area. The date of the inauguration of the Catholic church, in 1788, is considered today to be its founding date.

Camilo Cienfuegos Park, with the iconic arbor and the San José Church, in San José de las Lajas. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

The La Fraternidad Society building, now a store, in San José de las Lajas. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

San José took its name from the church, which was also the name of an existing hacienda in the area. The name “lajas” refers to a type of flat stone abundant in those parts, which, like the saint, is depicted on the municipal coat of arms.

Over the next two centuries, the town continued to grow, driven by milestones such as the establishment of businesses, the construction of a theater in 1860, the arrival of electricity at the beginning of the 20th century and, shortly after, the Central Highway. Furthermore, the area was also involved in the struggles for independence and later, in revolutionary struggles.

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Although it never became one of Cuba’s major cities, San José has maintained its local and regional relevance. Before becoming the capital of Mayabeque, it was also one of the main towns in the former province of Havana.

With emblematic sites such as its main park, its iconic arbor and the church of the same name, San José de las Lajas is still suffering today from the impact of the severe economic crisis, emigration and the numerous problems spread throughout the island. Photojournalist Otmaro Rodríguez brings us closer to its current locations and daily life this Sunday through his images.