Matanzas is the capital city of the province of the same name. The city was built in the 1600s and settled by former residents of the Canary Islands, many of whom were promptly massacred by the disgruntled Siboney Indians who lived here at the time. Today Matanzas is a quiet city with many colonial buildings and bridges spanning the rivers that
run through the town. Few tourists spend any real length of time in Matanzas because it is primarily an industrial town and the resort area of Varadero draws most of the attention. There are a few sights worth taking in for visitors passing through or spending time here. Some of the main highlights are the pharmacy museum and the Teatro Sauto, in addition to the fabulous architecture.