Camaguey - Culture

Their population (1997), is of 313,671 inhabitants, in an area of at about 300 km². The city relies on the international airport "Ignacio Agramonte", it crosses the central highway and rounded by a modern freeway. The city is the headquarters of the government of the province, as well as of all the political institutions, states and not governmental.

The city relies on several museums, like the Provincial Museum "Ignacio Agramonte", the Museum of The Secret Fight "Jesus Suaréz Gayol", and the Native House of The Senior, as well as with the Provincial Library "Julio Antonio Mella".

For those that desire to visit the city, they in the same are present several Cuban chains Hotel. The Islazul chain offers the hotels Cuba Island, Colon, Puerto Principe, Plaza and the Gran Hotel, the installation of more range. Part of the chain Horizons offer the Camagüey Hotel.

The cultural expression of the province could be measured through the existence of a net of Culture Houses, of the Cuban culture journey on October, and the province and municipalities culture journey. A ballet school, school arts, like "Luis Casas Romero" and "Jose White". Several museums also exist, like the Provincial Museum "Ignacio Agramonte", and the "Ignacio Agramonte birth house" and the Museum of the Collegiate Fights, all these in the provincial capital, existing others in the municipalities. It is present also a provincial net from libraries, headed by "Julio Antonio Mella" in the capital of the province. It could be also classified like strong the development of the plastics arts, in feature like Joel Jovert, and the work of the Hermanos Saíz association, AHS.

On June, in the city takes place the San Juan, typical carnival of the province, which first stories are from the XVIII century.

Their first districts introduce narrow, and tortuous streets. The posterior urbanization, XVIII and XIX centuries, they already follow a scheme in grid. After 1959, new urbanization have enlarged the city map, with districts of tall buildings and a modern freeway that circle the city. From the colonial epoch several primitive residences are conserved. The protection of these architectural wealth is the responsibility of the City Historian Office in Camagüey, OHCC.

In Camagüey also are found one of the biggest urban parks of the country, the Casino Country, that appear in the XIX century like a place for making agro-industrial fairs, constituting a true real "green" zone of the city at the present time.

To tour Camaguey you may want to start at the Plaza de los Trabajadores. At the central square you'll find Casa Ignacio Agramonte. The house once belonged to a revolutionary hero who was killed in the fighting. The small house is now a sort of museum/memorial. On the other side of the square is the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes. This is the largest church in Camaguey. There is a some sacred art housed in the grand structure. The most important piece is the Holy Sepulchre, produced by a Mexican artist in 1762. There is an old monastery out back protected by an owl and shaded by tall trees. The church also houses Las Catacumbas, which is under the alter and was used to house the dead up until the 18^th century. For a look at Camaguey's commercial main street you will want to venture down Avenida Republica. Many of the shops are catered towards Cubans, though you can still find an ice cream shop or two. Parque Ignacio Agramonte is a good place to stop and relax and watch the people go about their business. In the heart of the labyrinth is the Plaza San Juan de Dios. The colonial style buildings and homes here have retained their original colours and integrity. The Iglesia San Juan de Dios which takes up one whole side of the square has been restored and is worth a visit. All of these architectural bounties make this the most beautiful square in all of Camaguey.