|
The
capital of Granma Province. The city
has a rich tradition of Cuban national pride and is often
referred to as "the Birthplace of Cuban Nationality"
and "the Cradle of Cuban Revolution." Additionally,
Bayamo has always been a center of philosophy and maintains
a rich intellectual and artistic tradition.
With a population of 130,000 people, Bayamo
has experienced considerable growth since it was founded by
the Spanish in 1513 as one of the original seven Spanish cities
in Cuba. Today, its major commercial importance is in sugar
refining.
Bayamo was a valuable hub in the Spanish slave
trade, especially as sugarcane crops became the area's predominant
economic asset. As a result, there is a strong base of Afro-Cuban
culture in the area.
During the 1800's, the emerging upper-middle
class of sugarcane farm owners began to be dissatisfied from
their lack of representation and influence in the Spanish
colonial government. They resented the governors' tactics
of continually ensuring that most power, and therefore economic
benefit, remained in the hands of European-born Spaniards.
Bayamo was the stronghold of early revolutionary
Carlos Manel de Céspedes, who freed his slaves and
declared war against colonialist Spain. During the ensuing
battles, Bayamo exchanged hands several times and was once
burned to the ground by Cuban rebels as the city was being
sacked by the Spanish.
Interesting
links on Bayamo:
|
