PLACES OF INTEREST
A bordering city between the central and eastern regions, its capital was founded in 1796, bears the pseudonym of “Capital de la Escultura Cubana” (The Capital of Cuban Sculpture). The coexistence of several architectural styles is the main characteristic of its Historical Center. Although it currently has little tourist development, it has interesting attractions. Of deeply-rooted peasant folklore, the city is celebrated due to the Jornada Nacional Cucalambeana (National Cucalambeana Day) a festival of traditional popular culture held in honor to the poet Juan Cristóbal Nápoles Fajardo.
1 Capital: Las Tunas
Extension: 6 588 sq. km Municipalities: Las Tunas, Puerto Padre, Jesus Menéndez, Manatí, Majibacoa, Amancio, Colombia and Jobabo.
Denonym: tunero/a Limits: it limits to the north with the province of Camagüey and the Atlantic Ocean, to the east with the province of Holguín, to the south with the province Granma and the Golfo de Guacanayabo, and to the west with the province of Camagüey.
Access: it is crossed by the Carretera Central (Central National Road) and the Central Railway and has an airport for domestic flights.
PARQUE VICENTE GARCÍA (PARK)
Vicente García, Colón, Francisco Vega and Francisco Varona streets work of the architect Domingo Alás Rosell, was inaugurated on March 25, 1995. In it is located a sculpture designed and carved by the famous Cuban sculptor Rita Longa represents the national hero of Cuba, José Martí, also known as the "apostle" or the "teacher". The attractiveness of this monument is that it forms a whole with the square, acquiring full meaning in relation to other elements present in it.
The square has three fundamental components: a convective solar reflector, a solar calendar and a solar clock that represents the time accurately. Closely related to the movement of the shadow is the calendar located on the ground, where important historical and astronomical dates are
indicated for the community, such as the birth and death of José Martí or the solstices and equinoxes of the stations. The reflector is a mirror placed on the head of a pedestal that manages to project the sunlight onto the bronze face of the "apostle". The striking thing is that it is located astronomically in such a way that every May 19th at 2:30 pm the sunlight is reflected on the face of the sculpture; just the date and time of the death of the National Hero. This light effect is inspired by the verses of the poet:
"Do not put me in the dark, to die as a traitor,
I am good and as good,
I will die facing the sun"
MUSEO HISTÓRICO PROVINCIAL (MUSEUM)
Francisco Varona, between Ángel Guarda and Adolfo Villamar streets, Tel 031 34 8201
It has an eclectic collection of pieces related to history and local culture, as well as a room dedicated to the internationalism of the Cuban people, and another one to natural history.
CASA DE VICENTE GARCÍA
5 Vicente García between Francisco Vega and Julián Santana streets, Tel 031 34 5164 In this building, on September 26, 1876, General Vicente Garcia proposed setting fire to the city to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Spaniards. The building, which miraculously survived the fire, is today a museum commemorating the wars for independence.
PLAZA DE LA REVOLUCIÓN (SQUARE)
Ave. 30 de noviembre and Ave. 2 de diciembre
Its main feature is a monument dedicated to Major
General Vicente Garcia, built in pink concrete with bas-reliefs, showing the local hero with the machete drawn. In the square is the Salón de los Generales, which exhibits busts of other outstanding generals who participated in the struggles for independence.
2 FUERTE DE LA LOMA
Municipality of Puerto Padre, Las Tunas
It was built in mid-1869 by a section of the Spanish Army's engineers. Declared a National Monument in 1981, it is the only one of the country in whose construction the technique of mampuesto (rough stone) was used from local elements such as limestone and sand. Although considered impregnable, on February 14, 1877 it was taken by a mambí command under the command of Vicente García.
3 PLAYA COVARRUBIAS
Located on the northern coast of the province, it has 4 km of white sands and turquoise waters where you can practice water sports such as scuba diving and deep-sea fishing. It is the only one of the beaches in the province that has accommodation in the Brisas Covarrubias Hotel (Playa Covarrubias/tel 031 51 5530).
MONTE CABANIGUÁN
Jobabo, Las Tunas Located to the south of the municipality of Jobabo, between the provinces of Granma and Las Tunas, it is famous for being the largest reserve in the world of the species of the crocodile Acutus, also known as American crocodile, crocodile needle or crocodile nose. In 1986, the area was studied and investigated and in 1990 the Don Miguel Álvarez del Toro Biological Station was built. Covering 14,500 hectares of land, brief aquatic visits can be made to enter the most interesting and exotic wildlife refuge in the country. In it you will have the opportunity to observe aquatic birds like flamingos, exotic birds such as the Cuban parakeet or the Cuban pijije, etc. It is an area protected internationally as Ramsar Wetland, hence it is one of the best preserved and protected natural sites in the country