Matanzas City

Ciudad de Matanzas Parque de la Livertad Playa Mamey Puente de la Conco

CITY AND PROVINCE OF MATANZAS

Matanzas (slaughter in Spanish, its name came for the wiped out of the local aborigines by the Spaniards) is one of the most attractive cities in Cuba. Founded in 1693 by immigrants from the Canary Islands, the city has grown around the bay of Matanzas, one of the most important seaports of the island. During the second half of the 19th century Matanzas was the heart of the cultural live in the island. Due to the number of artists, musicians, writers, and intellectuals that lived in this city at that time and the tremendous impact that these remarkable men and women had in the Cuban culture, Matanzas was known as the Athens of Cuba. Other sobriquets assumed by the city are “City of the Bridges” and “Venice of Cuba”.

The architecture of Matanzas is mainly eclectic although in its historic centre the neoclassical building are the rule. The city has been declared National Monument and World Heritage by UNESCO.

The city of Matanzas is the capital of the homonym province (the second largest one in Cuba) in which is located the most famous Cuban beach, Varadero. The Blue Beach, as it is also known for the different tonalities of blue of its waters, is highly recommended for the lovers of the sun and beach tourism. Nevertheless Varadero is a traditional resort centre filled of hotels and foreign tourists that’s why it is not the favourite place for visitors more interested in the historic, the culture and the traditions of the Cuban people. It is also important to remark that it is not allowed to rent private accommodations in Varadero so, for those interested in enjoying this beautiful beach but also want to save some money and know better the Cuban people, the city of Matanzas is the perfect place to stay.

Another tourist attraction in the province of Matanzas is the de Zapata Peninsula, World preserve of the biosphere, located 110 km to the south of Matanzas city. In this peninsula is located the biggest swampy area in the Caribbean. Inside the Peninsula are several attractions as Playa Larga and Playa Girón (very close of the place in which the mercenaries paid by the US Government disembarked and were defeated by the refunded Cuban army in April 1961), the Laguna del Tesoro in which is located Villa Guamá built to resemble a Taino village and the crocodile farm at the mouth of the Canal de la Laguna.

Matanzas city and Varadero are communicated with the rest of the world through the International Airport Juan Gualberto Gomez (located between Varadero and Matanzas.

DISTANCIAS EN KM.

Pinar del Rio, 296

La Habana, 100

Varadero, 35

Cardenas, 51

Guama, (En la Península de Zapata), 110

Cienfuegos, 197

Santa Clara, 199

Trinidad, 271

Sancti Spiritus, 359

Ciego de Ávila, 359

Camaguey, 465

Bayamo, 670

Holguín, 671