<\/p>\n

Havana may be Cuba\u2019s capital and largest city, but Santiago de Cuba is its cultural capital.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a>Nestled on the far southeastern side of the island, near the infamous Guantanamo Bay, Santiago de Cuba (Santiago) is the second largest city in Cuba, infused with Afro-Caribbean cultural and rebel influences.<\/p>\n

It was in Santiago, where on July 26, 1953, Fidel Castro and others launched their Revolutionary movement with a failed armed attack on the Moncada Barracks. It was also in Santiago, where on January 1, 1959, Fidel Castro proclaimed the victory of the Cuban Revolution from a balcony on Santiago\u2019s city hall. But Santiago\u2019s revolutionary spirit was born long before Fidel ever touched foot there.<\/p>\n

Santiago is home to Cuba\u2019s largest Afro-Cuban population, most of whom are descended from slaves brought to Cuba from Africa and Haiti in the 1700s and 1800s to work its sugar plantations. Those slaves turned to music, dance and spirituality to survive the brutal conditions and that creolized legacy remains alive today.<\/p>\n

In what can only be described as a secret act of rebellion, African slaves disguised their religion under acceptable Catholic symbols after their traditional religions were banned. Catholic saints came to represent Yoruban orishas (divine beings), each with distinct attributes and its own color. Today, a large number of Santiagueros practice Afro-Cuban religions, most notably Santer\u00eda. You\u2019ll often see them wearing red, white, or yellow beads, with each color representing a different saint.<\/p>\n

Santiago is the birthplace of son, the traditional music and dance from which salsa dancing is derived, and guaguanc\u00f3, a sub-genre of Cuban rumba, combining percussion, voices, and dance. The music permeates every pore of Santiago and you couldn\u2019t escape it if you tried. From the local coffee shops and bars, to the legendary Casa de la Trova, Casa de la Musica, Casa de las Tradiciones, Casa del Caribe, and Patio de los dos abuelos, the intoxicating beats of Afro-Cuban music will draw you in and leave you wanting more.<\/p>\n

From Havana, Santiago is a 1.5 hour flight or a long 16 hour bus ride, but it\u2019s worth every minute. If you haven\u2019t yet been, I encourage you to go and experience the exciting fusion of rum, music and revolution. To help you plan, here\u2019s a list of my favorite things to do there:<\/p>\n

1. Museo del Carnaval<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you want to learn the history of Santiago\u2019s biggest party, held each year in late July, the Carnival Museum is the place to go. You\u2019ll find floats, effigies, costumes, musical instruments, and more from past Carnivals. If you\u2019re lucky, you can also catch a live folklorico dance performance on the patio. They\u2019re typically held in the afternoon around 4:00 pm, but the schedule is irregular.<\/p>\n