Capital of Granma province, Bayamo is a small size city with a relaxed atmosphere and refreshingly, not overrun with tourists. It is one of the oldest towns in Cuba and is a national monument. Bayamo was founded in 1513 but the town was burned to the ground by the town's people in 1869, during the First War of Independence, as an alternative to surrendering it to the Spanish. As a result, the town does not boast great Colonial architecture. There are several monuments in the town related to the war of independence, which figured so prominently in the history of Bayamo.
The town also played a part in the Revolution, which is recognized throughout the town.
Some of the local attractions include the Casa Natal de Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, the Parroquial Mayor de San Salvador, and the sites around Plaza de la Revolution.
Northeast of Bayamo is Dos Rios, best known for being the place where Jose Marti died on May 19, 1895. The location is marked with an obelisk to commemorate this national hero. There is also a memorial trail lined with flowers at this location. Also not far from Bayamo, on the outskirts of the town of Guisa is the Jardin Botanico de Cupaynicu. The garden is located in a mountainous area and home to a range of plants used for all different purposes.
Bayamo's greatest war hero was born here at Casa Natal de Carlos Manuel de Cespedes in 1819. Manuel de Cespedes is credited with leading the independence movement in 1868. His birthplace, Casa Natal de Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, where he lived until the age of 12, is now a museum. On display are Cespedes personal items and documents, information on the history of Bayamo and the death of Cespedes, along with some of the home's original furnishings. The house itself is also a significant piece of architecture, as the only remaining two story Colonial house in Bayamo.
Address: Casa Natal de Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, Calle Francisco Maceo 57, Bayamo, Granma , Cuba
The Torre de San Juan de Evangelista is all that remains of the church that once stood here. The church was burned to the ground during the fire of 1869 but the tower endured. It was later used as the entrance to the cemetery. The cemetery no longer exists but it was the first cemetery in Cuba. It closed in 1919 and was destroyed in 1940. Despite all the changes around it, the Torre de San Juan de Evangelista still stands. A statue of war hero, Francisco Vicente Aguilera, stands next to the tower.
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