La Demajagua
Meet La Demajagua, the spot that Carlos Manuel de Céspedes made famous by proclaiming at it the Cuban independence
La Demajagua
© Sol de Cuba
La Demajagua is a site located only 13 km away from the municipality of Manzanillo, near the gulf of Guacanayabo in Cuba. Although its original name was Demajagua referring to a local predominant type of vegetation named majagua (blue mahoe) and as the years went by locals added it the pronoun “La”. For that this place is colloquially and officially known as “La Demajagua” despite it being a sugar refinery at first.
The significance of that sugar factory lies in the fact that it was exploited by slaves to whom Carlos Manuel de Céspedes through his famous grito de Yara gave the right to freedom in 1868. This led to his figure rising as “Padre de la Patria” (“Father of the Homeland”) and wars of all kinds would emerge in search of the independence of the country.
For the first time the skin colour, the nationality or the economic richness did not matter. There was only one thing to do which was to change the course of history of Cuba had taken at the hand of Spanish government. In 1947 Fidel Castro used the bell with which Carlos Manuel de Céspedes notified the slaves of their freedom as a symbol of liberation during a demonstration in Havana.
The current museum was opened in 1893 which since then has been the main reason for tourists to visit the area. Actually, in 1978 it was declared a Monumento Nacional (National Monument), an event that turned the museum into one of the most distinguished places in the island.
This museum has six halls ambiented in a way that emphasises the heroic act of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes (original documents, photographs, paintings…) despite recreating the historical becoming of Cuba and, more to the point, Manzanillo during the six stages where the history of the municipality is divided.
The restoration carried out in 2018 included the area for other activities, such as scientific meetings and the most recent findings that have been found, among others.
More information:
Location:
Carretera Central Km 14, National Park La Demajagua, Manzanillo, Granma, Cuba
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Entrance fee:
1 CUC
Telephone:
(+53) 2352053
Interactive map:
Granma:
Bayamo
What to see:
Manzanillo
What to see:
Niquero
What to see:
Other nearby destinations:
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