Holguin Travel Guide, Cuba

The city of Holguin is situated in Holguin province, located on the northeast coast of Cuba.

With a population of more than a million inabitants, Holguin province covers 9,300 square kilometers, a third of them being covered by forests. The province is a conglomerate of 14 municipalities and its capital is Holguin.

The city of Holguin is known as "the city of parks". The tourists can detect a powerful Hispanic influence in a city that was founded in 1720. The urbanistic plan of the streets makes possible the link between public squares and the multitude of parks. Two of the main streets are parallel and date back to the beginning of the city in the 18th century. The city is surrounded in the northern part by hills which end in the river bed of Cauto River, the longest watercourse in Cuba. At the foot of these hills are to be found six different parks where the 262.100 inhabitants of the city spend their time relaxing and having fun.

Having a rich cultural life, Holguin has as icons two popular figures: the donkey of Mayabe and "El Guayabero".

The capital of Holguin province is Holguin city. It received its name after Captain García Holguín who came into possession of a piece of land in 1525, thus setting the bases of the first settlement in the region.

Attractions:

Hill of the Cross (Loma de la Cruz)

One of the most famous touristic attraction in the city of Holguin is Hill of the Cross (Loma de la Cruz). In order to have a spectacular landscape of the city and its surroundings, you have to climb a 458-step staircase. You can also get there by car but the climb worths the effort. From the top of the hill at about 261-meter one can experience a unique sight. On the top of the hill lies a wooden cross placed there by Fray Francisco Antonio de Alegría in 1790. This place has a powerful religious meaning in the life of the citizens of Holguin. It was a place where pilgrimages took place for several years and nowadays it has transformed into the site where takes place Romerías de Mayo, a popular festival.

Museo Provincial “La Periquera”

Because of the part it played during the battles for gaining the independance of the city, the building that hostes today the Provincial Museum “La Periquera” was declared national monument. For those interested in the origin of the name “La Periquera” it has to be mentioned that this nickname dates back to 1868. It comes from an incident related to the name of Brigadier General Grave de Peralta who led the fight for independence against the Spanish colonial troops. The building was transformed into the Spaniard’s headquarters. The Cuban fighters named the Spaniards ‘pericos’, which means ‘parrots’, and requested them to get out of the building and fight with courage. The colourful uniform of the Spanish troops reminded Cubans of the parrots existing in Cuba, so that is why they named the Spaniards ‘pericos’, hence ‘La Periquera’.

The Calixto Garcia Iñiguez Park

This park hosts in the Hispanic Arms Square the statue of Holguin’s hero of the wars for the Cuban independence. This monument replaced the statue of Queen Elizabeth II.

Here you can also visit the Cuban Fund of Cultural Assets with galleries of handicraft and fine arts, situated on the north side of the park. Interested in the specificity of this city? Then you should go on the west side of The Calixto Garcia Park. This is the place where you can hear Cuban sounds coming out of the house of the Troubadours. Tourists can stroll in Plaza de la Marqueta and enjoy a night at Holguin's Puppet Theater or the Eddy Sunol Theater, the biggest theater that hosts every important event of the city.

Holguin is a beautiful city where tourists will have the chance to discover the beauty of Cuba.