Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba with a population of 1/2 million and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some 970 km south-east of Havana.
Santiago de Cuba was founded by Spanish conquistador Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar on June 28, 1514. It has a storied history of conflicts with the major world powers over the centuries. It was the location where Spanish troops faced their main defeat at San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898, during the Spanish-American War. Spain later surrendered to the United States after the destruction of its Atlantic fleet just outside Santiago’s harbor.
Sunset over the Cathedral (taken from the Casa Granda)
The Center of Santiago is 969km from Havana
Steep Climb from the Harbour to City Center
Rooftop View of Santiago (taken from the Casa Granda)
Paint Makes Things Better
Rooftop View (taken from the Casa Granda)
Very Impressive Harbour
El Morro Guards the Harbour Entrance
Salsa Dancing on the Porch
Granma Island just inside the Harbour Entrance
Iguana & Baby feeding on Rice
Paintings for Sale — Bottom left is the famous ’42 Willys we used for cruising Santiago