Matanzas (Cuban ) is the capital of the
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
n province of
Matanzas. Known for its poets, culture, and
Afro-Cuban folklore, it is located on the northern shore of the island of
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
, on the Bay of Matanzas (Spanish ''Bahia de Matanzas''), east of the capital
Havana
Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center. and west of the resort town of
Varadero.
Matanzas is called the ''City of Bridges'', for the seventeen bridges that cross the three rivers that traverse the city (Rio Yumuri, San Juan, and Canimar). For this reason it was referred to as the "Venice of Cuba." It was also called "La Atenas de Cuba" ("The Athens of Cuba") for its poets.
Matanzas is known as the birthplace of the music and dance traditions
danzón
Danzón is the official musical genre and dance of Cuba.Urfé, Odilio 1965. ''El danzón''. La Habana. It is also an active musical form in Mexico and Puerto Rico.
Written in time, the danzón is a slow, formal partner dance, requiring se ...
and
rumba
The term rumba may refer to a variety of unrelated music styles. Originally, "rumba" was used as a synonym for "party" in northern Cuba, and by the late 19th century it was used to denote the complex of secular music styles known as Cuban rumba ...
.
History
Matanzas was founded in 1693 as ''San Carlos y San Severino de Matanzas''.
[ This followed a royal decree ("''real cédula''") issued on September 25, 1690, which decreed that the bay and port of Matanzas be settled by 30 families from the ]Canary Islands
The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...
.
Matanzas was one of the regions that saw intensive development of sugar plantations during the colonial era. Consequently, many African slaves were imported to support the sugar industry, particularly during the first half of the nineteenth century. For example, in 1792 there were 1900 slaves in Matanzas, roughly 30% of its population. In 1817, the slave population of Matanzas had grown to 10,773, comprising nearly 50% of the overall population. By 1841, 53,331 slaves made up 62.7% of the population of Matanzas.[Bergad, Laird W. ''Cuban Rural Society in the Nineteenth Century: The Social and Economic History of Monoculture in Matanzas''. Princeton University Press, 1990.] Census figures for 1859 put the Matanzas slave population at 104,519.[ Matanzas was the site of several slave insurrections and plots, including the infamous ''Escalera'' conspiracy (discovered in late 1843). Due to the high number of both slaves and, importantly, free Afro-Cubans in Matanzas, the retention of African traditions is especially strong there. In 1898, Matanzas became the location of the first action in the ]Spanish–American War
, partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence
, image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg
, image_size = 300px
, caption = (clock ...
. The city was bombarded by American Navy vessels on April 25, 1898, just after the beginning of the war.
Name origin
The name Matanzas means "massacre
A massacre is the killing of a large number of people or animals, especially those who are not involved in any fighting or have no way of defending themselves. A massacre is generally considered to be morally unacceptable, especially when per ...
" and refers to a putative slaughter in 1510 at the port of the same name, in which 30 Spanish soldiers tried to cross one of the rivers to attack an aboriginal camp on the far shore. The Spanish soldiers had no boats, so they enlisted the help of native fishermen
A fisher or fisherman is someone who captures fish and other animals from a body of water, or gathers shellfish.
Worldwide, there are about 38 million commercial and subsistence fishers and fish farmers. Fishers may be professional or recreat ...
. However, once they reached the middle of the river, the fishermen flipped the boats, and due to the Spanish soldiers' heavy metal armor, most of them drowned. Only two women—one said to be the beautiful MarÃa de Estrada—survived, the result of being taken by a Cacique
A ''cacique'' (Latin American ; ; feminine form: ''cacica'') was a tribal chieftain of the TaÃno people, the indigenous inhabitants at European contact of the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles. The term is a Spa ...
. De Estrada is said to have later escaped the "power of the Cacique" and married Pedro Sánchez Farfán in the city of Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The island lies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is often referred to as the southernmos ...
. According to municipal historian Arnaldo Jimenez de la Cal, " was the first act of rebellion of natives in Cuba."
Geography
The city is located on the north shore of the island of Cuba, on all three sides of the Bay of Matanzas. The bay cuts deep in the island, and three rivers flow in the bay inside city limits (Rio Yumuri, San Juan, and Canimar). To the south-east, the landscape rises into a hill called ''Pan de Matanzas'', divided from the Atlantic coast by the Yumuri Valley and a coastal ridge.
The city of Matanzas is divided into four neighborhoods: Versalles, Matanzas, Playa and Pueblo Nuevo. The municipality is divided into the barrio
''Barrio'' () is a Spanish language, Spanish word that means "Quarter (urban subdivision), quarter" or "neighborhood". In the modern Spanish language, it is generally defined as each area of a city, usually delimited by functional (e.g. residenti ...
s of Bachicha, Bailén, Barracones, Bellamar, Camarioca, Cárcel, Ceiba Mocha, Colón, Corral Nuevo, Guanábana, Ojo de Agua, Refugio, San Luis, San Severino, Simpson y Monserrate, Versalles and YumurÃ.
Demographics
In 2004, the municipality of Matanzas had a population of 143,706. With a total area of , it has a population density of .
Transportation
Air
Matanzas is served by Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport, 15 km east of the city.
Rail
The city has two railway stations. The main station is on the main line
Mainline, ''Main line'', or ''Main Line'' may refer to:
Transportation
Railway
* Main line (railway), the principal artery of a railway system
* Main line railway preservation, the practice of operating preserved trains on an operational railw ...
from Havana
Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center. to Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second-largest city in Cuba and the capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province. It lies in the southeastern area of the island, some southeast of the Cuban capital of Havana.
The municipality extends over , and contains t ...
. The electrified Hershey train operates by a different route to Havana from a separate station in the barrio of Versalles.
Buses
Matanzas is also served by Viazul and Astro buses.
Tramway
After two failed attempts Matanzas had a tramway in 1916 (initially as Ferrocarril Eléctrico de Matanzas, then as city owned CompañÃa de Servicios Públicos de Matanzas in 1918 and CompañÃa de TranvÃas de Matanzas in 1926). In 1952 it acquired tramcars from Havana Electric Railway, but converted with buses by new owners Omnibus Urbanos SA in 1954.
Roads
The Via Blanca highway connects the city with both Havana in the west and Varadero in the east.
Education
The University of Matanzas
The University of Matanzas "Camilo Cienfuegos" (Spanish: ''Universidad de Matanzas "Camilo Cienfuegos"'', UM) is a public university located in Matanzas, Cuba. It was founded in 1972 and is organized in six faculties.
Organization
These are the ...
is the province's high learning education institution.
Attractions
* Pharmaceutical Museum - established in 1882
* Museo Historico Provincial de Matanzas
Palacio de Junco aka the Museo Histórico Provincial de Matanzas was built for the del Junco family in Matanzas between 1835 and 1838. It has housed the Museo Histórico Provincial de Matanzas since 1980. It is located at the Plaza de La Viga on ...
- Provincial History Museum
* El Consejo Provincial de Artes Visuales at the GalerÃa Pedro Esquerré, shows exhibitions of contemporary art.
* Sauto Theater - ''Teatro Sauto'' - Opened in 1863, the theatre hosts plays, opera, ballet, and symphonic concerts. It is a National Monument of Cuba.
* Catedral San Carlos De Borromeo
* Nearby Bellamar cave
A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground, specifically a space large enough for a human to enter. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. The word ''cave'' can refer to smaller openings such as sea ...
s, also a National Monument of Cuba.[
* Boating on the Canimar River
* Matanzas bridges
* Casino Español - Now being restored (May 2008).
* Matanzas High School (Palm Coast)
* ]Necropolis de San Carlos Borromeo
Necropolis de San Carlos Borromeo also known as Cementerio de San Carlos or San Carlos Cemetery is located in Matanzas, Cuba. It was inaugurated on September 2, 1872 on 13.5 hectares. It is the third most important Cemetery of Cuba in terms of ...
* Quinta de Bellamar, heritage house and church
Monuments
The Aqueduct of Matanzas, today a national monument, was built in 1870 and is still providing the city with water from the spring Manantial de Bello. An ingenious construction built 1912 exploited and till 1912 by Fernando Heydrich Fernando Heydrich Klein (26 January 1827 – April 1, 1903) was a German businessman, politician, engineer and sculptor who lived in Matanzas, Cuba. Builder of the Acueduct of Matanzas he was politically engaged, playing a significant role during t ...
and Company.
Notable people
* Eufemio Abreu - Negro league baseball player
*Bernardo Benes
Dr. Bernardo Benes Baikowitz (27 December 1934 in Matanzas, Cuba – 14 January 2019 in Miami, Florida) was a prominent Jewish Cuban lawyer, banker, journalist and civic leader, who was responsible for freeing 3,600 Cuban political prisoners in 19 ...
- exiled Cuban born lawyer, banker and civic leader in Miami
* Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons - Afro-Cuban
Afro-Cubans or Black Cubans are Cubans of West African ancestry. The term ''Afro-Cuban'' can also refer to historical or cultural elements in Cuba thought to emanate from this community and the combining of native African and other cultural el ...
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in an activity related to creating art, practicing the arts, or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse refers to a practitioner in the visual arts only. However, th ...
-photography, performance, audiovisual media, and sculpture, born in Matanzas in 1959
*José Cardenal
José Rosario Domec Cardenal (born October 7, 1943) is a Cuban American former professional baseball outfielder, who played Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants (1963–64), Los Angeles/California Angels (1965–67), Clevelan ...
- Former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
player
* Jesus Cabrera - Leading Cuban Pathologist was born in Matanzas in 1929
*Leo Cárdenas
Leonardo Lazaro Cárdenas Alfonso (born December 17, 1938) is a Cuban former professional baseball shortstop, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from to for the Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins, California Angels, Cleveland Indians, an ...
- Former Major League Baseball player and 5-time All-Star was born in Matanzas in 1938
*Rafael Cruz
Rafael Bienvenido Cruz y DÃaz (born March 22, 1939) is a Cuban-American Protestant preacher and father of Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz. He regularly serves as a surrogate in his son's political campaigns.
Early life
Cruz was born in Matanzas ...
- Born in Matanzas in 1939; Evangelistic preacher and father of U.S. Senator
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and powe ...
Ted Cruz
Rafael Edward "Ted" Cruz (; born December 22, 1970) is an American politician and attorney serving as the junior United States Senator from Texas since 2013. A member of the Republican Party, Cruz served as Solicitor General of Texas from ...
* Guillermo Heredia - Major League Baseball player
*Felipe de Jesús Estévez
Felipe de Jesús Estévez (born February 5, 1946) is a Cuban-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who was bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine in Florida from 2011 to 2022. Estévez previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdioc ...
- Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Augustine
* William R. King - 13th Vice President of the United States
The vice president of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest officer in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government, after the president of the United States, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. The vice ...
, was sworn into office near Matanzas in 1853
* Carlos Lamar - Olympic fencer was born in Matanzas in 1908
*Héctor Lombard
Héctor Miguel Lombard Pedrosa (born 2 February 1978) is a Cuban and Australian professional mixed martial artist, bodybuilder, and former Olympic judoka who competes in the Light Heavyweight division of Eagle FC. Lomb ...
- Mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorp ...
, born in Matanzas in 1978
*Sonora Matancera
La Sonora Matancera is a Cuban band that played Latin American urban popular dance music. Founded in 1924 and led for more than five decades by guitarist, vocalist, composer, and producer Rogelio MartÃnez, musicologists consider it an icon of ...
- is a Cuban/Afro-Cuban band
*Richard Maurice
Richard D. Maurice (June 14, 1893 – February 5, 1955) was a pioneering filmmaker during the silent film, silent era. Later, he became involved in labor organizing and helped found the Dining Car and Railroad Food Workers Trade union, union. He ...
- Film director and union organizer, born in Matanzas in 1893
*Monguito Ramón Quián (died May 26, 2006), better known as Monguito "El Único", was a Cuban vocalist, bandleader, producer and composer. An Afro-Cuban sonero, he had a simple improvising style with a distinctive nasal voice.
Career
Monguito performed wi ...
- was a Cuban vocalist, bandleader, producer and composer
* Nestor Pérez - former professional baseball player and the current manager of the Augusta GreenJackets
The Augusta GreenJackets are a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League and the Single-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They play their home games at SRP Park in North Augusta, South Carolina, which opened in April 2018. They previo ...
*Israel Pickens
Israel Pickens (January 30, 1780 – April 24, 1827) was an American politician and lawyer, List of governors of Alabama, third Governor of Alabama, Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama (1821 Alabama gubernatorial election, 1821–1825), member ...
- third governor of the US state of Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...
, died in Matanzas in 1827
*Pérez Prado
Dámaso Pérez Prado (December 11, 1916 – September 14, 1989) was a Cuban bandleader, pianist, composer and arranger who popularized the mambo in the 1950s.''On Becoming Cuban: Identity, Nationality, and Culture'' Louis A. Pérez Jr. - 2012 ...
- Mambo
Mambo most often refers to:
* Mambo (music), a Cuban musical form
*Mambo (dance), a dance corresponding to mambo music
Mambo may also refer to:
Music
* Mambo section, a section in arrangements of some types of Afro-Caribbean music, particul ...
bandleader and composer was born in Matanzas.
*Javier Sotomayor
Javier Sotomayor Sanabria (; born October 13, 1967) is a Cuban retired track and field athlete, who specialized in the high jump and is the current world record holder. The 1992 Olympic champion, he was the dominant high jumper of the 1990s; hi ...
- High Jump current World Record Holder, 8'1/2" in 1993, and Olympic Champion, Barcelona, Spain, 1992.
* Anne Kingsbury Wollstonecraft - botanist, naturalist, botanical illustrator, and women's rights advocate, lived in Matanzas in the 1820s.
* Lyen Wong - Cuban-German fitness athlete was born in Matanzas in 1974
* Joseph White - Franco-Afro-Cuban violin virtuoso was born in Matanzas on New Year's Eve 1835 (He died in Paris in 1918)
See also
* List of cities in Cuba
References
Further reading
* Miguel A. Bretos. ''Matanzas: The Cuba Nobody Knows'' (University Press of Florida; 2010) 317 pages; combines scholarly and personal perspectives in a history of Matanzas, a city that was known as the "Athens of Cuba" during a sugar boom of the 19th century.
External links
Ciudad de Matanzas
—A website with much information in Spanish about the city of Matanzas, from its foundation to the present day
€”City of Matanzas
Portal de la Ciencia en Matanzas
{{Authority control
1690s establishments in the Caribbean
1690s in Cuba
1693 establishments in the Spanish West Indies
17th-century establishments in Cuba
Cities in Cuba
Populated places established in 1693
Populated places in Matanzas Province