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It is one of
the most geologically diverse of all the island's
provinces, The Sierra Maestra mountain range in the east
is the most striking section of landscape and contrasts
vividly with the flat plains around the Cauto river to the
west of Granma.
This province
takes its name from the yacht which landed near its
southwestern tip bearing Castro, Che, and their
supporters. Roadside rice paddies and cane plantations
thousands of acres in size fill its flat northern plains,
overseen by the forested northern slopes of the Sierra
Maestra.
Bayamo:
It is the
capital of Granma Province. This area was important in the
Cuban struggle for freedom and has a wealth of historic
places of interest, including the site where Jose Marti
was shot, and one of Cuba's greatest national parks, Gran
Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra, to the south of Bayamo
township.
Bayamo has a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere and makes concessions
to tourism. The town is centred around Parque Cespedes which is a
delightful, shady park containing long marble benches and statues
of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes (called nothing less than the Father
of the Nation) and Perucho Figueredo. On the north side of the
park is the Ayuntamiento, it was in front of this in 1868 that
Cespedes proclaimed independence for Cuba.
On
weekend evenings, the square hosts something resembling a large
party, with hundred of Bayamese dressed to the nines, socializing
and eating rosquitas, the local sweet made of yuca.
Manzanillo:
It
is am important industrial port for the exportation of sugar. On
most nights you will find some form of live musical entertainment
taking place. The city is quiet. The most notable architectural
features being Moorish in origin in the main square: a riotous
gazebo, wedding-cake fountains and sphinx statues, and a casa de
la cultura with a tiled courtyard depicting Columbus' landing.
The
Cespedes trail continues just southwest of Manzanillo at the
remains of his sugar plantation Finca La Demajagua, farther
southwest at isolated Playa las Coloradas and you can't forget
Marea del Portillo on the south coast.
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