Santiago de Cuba is the cradle of a large part of Cuban culture. The eastern city has in fact spawned some of the most distinctive elements for which the island nation and its people are recognized: son music, the partying spirit, the joyful attitude, the rum and the conga.
Internal migratory waves have contributed to export the city’s traditions to the rest of the country, including the capital. As a local saying goes, “The self-respecting sons and daughters of Santiago de Cuba are those who live in Havana.”
Most Cubans, even those who have never set foot in Santiago, know the city’s iconic buildings and personalities: the steep streets connecting the sea to the hills; its patron saint, the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre; the Santa Efigenia Cemetery, where National Hero Jose Marti is buried, as well as other illustrious martyrs of Cuban history.
And of course we cannot forget the city’s baseball team, and the many fans who gathered at the Plaza de Marte to support or criticize their favorite players.
Santiago is much more than words and people. It is an experience to be lived.
1. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
2. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
3. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
4. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
5. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
6. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
7. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
8. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
9. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
10. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
11. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
12. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
13. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
14. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
15. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
16. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
17. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
18. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
19. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
20. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
21. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
22. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
23. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
24. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
25. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
26. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
27. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
28. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
29. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
30. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
31. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
32. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
33. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
34. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
35. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
36. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
37. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
38. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
39. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
40. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
41. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
42. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
43. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
44. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
45. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
46. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
47. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
48. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
49. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
50. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
51. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
52. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
53. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
54. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
55. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
56. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
57. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
58. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
59. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
60. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
61. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
62. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
63. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
64. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
65. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
66. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
67. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
68. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
69. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
70. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
71. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
72. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
73. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
74. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
75. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
76. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
77. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
78. Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida
Santiago de Cuba / Photo: Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida