Pinar del Río Province
Encyclopedia
Pinar del Río is one of the provinces of Cuba
. It is at the western end of the island of Cuba
.
s, the Cordillera de Guaniguanico, divided into the easterly Sierra del Rosario
and the westerly Sierra de los Organos. These form a landscape characterised by steep sided limestone
hills (called mogote
s) and flat, fertile valley
s. One such topographic feature, the Viñales Valley
, is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
.
The northern coast opens to the great Gulf of Mexico
, and is lined by the Colorados Archipelago
, a string of cay
s and isles developed on a reef
barrier. The westernmost point of Cuba, Cabo San Antonio, is located on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula
, which is a National Park
and a Biosphere Reserve
.
as Nueva Filipinas
(New Philippines
) due to the huge influx of Filipino
s who arrived from the Manila Galleons. They brought with them tamarind
(also known as sampaloc
), camisa de chinos, and arroz caldo (also known as arroz caldoso)
Known as Chinos Manila among the local population, the Filipinos worked the huge tobacco plantations much like how they did in the present provinces of Ilocos Sur
, Tarlac
, Ilocos Norte
, Cagayan
and Isabela in their home country. During that time, the Spanish colonizers had a virtual monopoly of the tobacco trade through their company, the Tabacalera
.
The world renowned La Flor de Isabela cigars (named after her Royal Majesty Queen Isabella II) were first cultivated in the Philippines
in the Hacienda San Fernando, Hacienda Isabel, Hacienda Antonio and the Hacienda Luisita
(all of these haciendas were later purchased by the Tabacalera
or the ). After Mexico
declared independence, the trade of the Manila Galleons was broken. The Tabacalera
shifted the cultivation of these cigars to Cuba
since the Philippines
was too far to govern without Mexico
in between. The Isabela cigars achieved much fame due in part because of the American's appetite for cigars when Havana
was a Las Vegas
-style playground before the tenure of President Fidel Castro
.
Nueva Filipinas was renamed Pinar del Río in 1774 at the same time that the old colonial capital of Guane
lost its superiority.
(Previously, the old capital of Guane was named after the Gaane district in the Maluku Islands
. During the Spanish times, the area was referred to as Las Islas Moluccas. Gaane in Indonesia is still located in the southern tip of Halmahera island. To this day, the Moluccas island group is the only area in predominantly Muslim Indonesia that has a Christian majority. The Moluccas or Spice Islands is also the scene of ongoing violent communal fighting between Christians and Muslim Jihad groups. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Ternate
island was the most important of the Moluccas islands in Indonesia. Ternate island is right off the coast of nearby Halmahera island where the town of Gaane is also located. At that time, Spain
, Portugal
, England
and the Netherlands
quarreled over their claim to get hold of the monopoly of the spice trade of the world. In fact, Isabella I of Castile
(for whom the city of Isabela, Basilan and Isabela (province), Philippiines was named) and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon
coveted the islands so much they sent Christopher Columbus
and many conquistadores to find it. In 1655, however, the Spaniards had to withdraw from the Moluccas in order to concentrate their forces in Manila
. This was to fortify themselves against the threatened attack of a Chinese warlord, Koxinga
. In moving out of the Moluccas, the Spanish missionary who went with the troops took along with him some 200 Moluccas Christians, better known as Márdikas. To this band of 200 Moluccas Indonesian immigrants can be traced the origin of Chabacano or Creole
Spanish in the Philippines
).
Afterwards, some Filipinos moved to Havana's big Barrio Chino or Chinatown
. Others jumped ship to Louisiana
. Others sailed back to Sinaloa
and Jalisco
in Mexico. Those with money went to Spain
or back to Manila (and brought with them Escabeche
a la Cubana which is a favorite dish to all Filipinos which they almost always serve using fish). The rest intermarried with the Cuban population.
Those who stayed quickly lost their Filipino ties since many among the Filipinos were like the local Cubans. They can speak Spanish
, they were Catholic
, they have to pay taxes or tributos, and they were treated like slaves by their Spanish masters. (Back in the Philippines, entire provinces were assigned to grow tobacco and nothing more. Those caught stealing a single leaf of tobacco or caught growing the food staple, rice, were hit with sugarcane or sentenced to death by garrote
). Nonetheless, their children survive to this day. That is why there are Filipino or Chinese-Filipino sounding surnames in Cuba, such as Tampico
, Magalan (from Magalang or to show respect), Batunbacal (from Batungbakal), Maquilin, Sumayao (to dance), Parian, Mabolo
, Pilapil, Alimoron (from Alimurung), Nacpil, Gotiaco, Piat, Singson or Singzon, Tuason or Tuazon, Hizon or Hison, Dizon or Dison
, Hinojosa or Hinohosa, Gandionco, Quiambao, Salambao, Puyat, Edralin, et al.
Important Cuban-Filipinos include the Azcarraga Fessner family, whose patriarch was Marcelo de Azcarraga y Palmero
, the first Prime Minister
of Spain with Indian blood, whose mother was a Filipina from the Lizarrabal and Palmero families.
Pinar del Rio was one of the last major cities in Cuba founded by the Spanish.
farming, with Pinar del Río producing 70% of Cuba's crop, used to make the cigar
s that are so prized overseas. The best tobacco, used for more expensive cigar brands, is grown in the flat lands of San Juan y Martínez.
Tourism is also an important part of the province’s economy. Though the town of Pinar del Río (the provincial capital) has some places of cultural and historical interest (such as the Cathedral of San Rosendo, a 19th Century construction), most attractions are to be found in rural or natural settings. A major destination is the Viñales Valley
, a karstic depression located in the Sierra de los Organos, north of the town of Viñales
. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
in 1999 because of its natural beauty and the traditional agricultural techniques which continue to used in the cultivation of tobacco and other crops there, the valley is a popular hiking and rock climbing location.
Many of the valley’s surrounding hills are dotted with caves which may be explored by visitors and spelunking has become another popular activity in the province (a particularly interesting cave is the Cueva de los Portales, beside the Río Caiguanabo, where Che Guevara
set up his staff headquarters and dormitory as commander of the Western Army during the Cuban Missile Crisis).
Accommodations in and near Viñales have also grown in number in response to growing tourism in the region. In addition to casas particulares (licensed bed and breakfasts in private residences), there a number of hotels some kilometers from the town, such as La Ermita and Rancho Horizontes San Vicente.
Another major tourist destination in the province is Las Terrazas
, a unique model village located 20 kilometer northeast of Soroa. Surrounded by mountains, the village was founded in 1971 as part of rural development and reforestation project which spans 5000 ha (12,355 acre). As in other parts of the province, there are several hiking trails which weave through the surrounding mountains. Some companies offer guided hiking tours on a daily basis (in some areas, in fact, a guide is mandatory).
With around 30 diving sites, Pinar del Río is also considered one of Cuba’s premier scuba diving destinations. Cayo Levisa, about two kilometers offshore, is known for its copious black coral and excursions to this cay are afforded by tour agencies based in the province. Another hugely popular location is María la Gorda beach, which boasts many nearby dive sites (as close as 200 m (218.7 yd) from the beach).
An increasing number of tourists also visit the San Diego hot springs, in search of the health benefits reportedly afforded by the warm sulfur-rich waters there. An additional spectrum of health-related services has also become available at this spa, including massages and mud baths.
Source: Population from 2004 Census. Area from 1976 municipal re-distribution.
Provinces of Cuba
Administratively, Cuba is divided into 15 provinces and one special municipality not included in any province. The last modification was approved in August 2010 , splitting Havana province into two new provinces: Artemisa and Mayabeque...
. It is at the western end of the island of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
Geography
The Pinar del Río province is Cuba's westernmost province and contains one of Cuba's three main mountain rangeMountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
s, the Cordillera de Guaniguanico, divided into the easterly Sierra del Rosario
Sierra del Rosario
Sierra del Rosario is mountain range in the Pinar del Río Province of Cuba. It is located in the western part of the Guaniguanico Range, in the north-central part of the province, between the municipalities of La Palma, Los Palacios and Consolación del Sur....
and the westerly Sierra de los Organos. These form a landscape characterised by steep sided limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
hills (called mogote
Mogote
Mogotes are isolated, steep-sided, residual, hills, which are composed of either limestone, marble, or dolomite and surrounded by nearly flat alluvial plains. These hills typically have a rounded, tower-like form. This term was originally used for karst hills developed in the folded limestone in...
s) and flat, fertile valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
s. One such topographic feature, the Viñales Valley
Viñales Valley
Viñales Valley is a karstic depression in Cuba. The valley has an area of and is located in the Sierra de los Organos, just north of Viñales in the Pinar del Río Province....
, is a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
The northern coast opens to the great Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, and is lined by the Colorados Archipelago
Colorados Archipelago
The Colorados Archipelago is a chain of isles and cays on Cuba's north-western coast.The sea surrounding the islands is used mainly for fishing, with commercial captures of lobster, sponge, oysters, red snapper and tuna...
, a string of cay
Cay
A cay , also spelled caye or key, is a small, low-elevation, sandy island formed on the surface of coral reefs. Cays occur in tropical environments throughout the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans , where they provide habitable and agricultural land for hundreds of thousands of people...
s and isles developed on a reef
Reef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
barrier. The westernmost point of Cuba, Cabo San Antonio, is located on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula
Guanahacabibes Peninsula
Guanahacabibes Peninsula is the westernmost point on the island of Cuba. It is located in Pinar del Río Province, in the municipality of Sandino and is sparsely populated. The waters surrounding the peninsula are important spiny lobster and red snapper fishing grounds. It also boasts the category...
, which is a National Park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
and a Biosphere Reserve
Biosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
.
History
The city and province was originally founded by the SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
as Nueva Filipinas
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
(New Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
) due to the huge influx of Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
s who arrived from the Manila Galleons. They brought with them tamarind
Tamarind
Tamarind is a tree in the family Fabaceae. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic .-Origin:...
(also known as sampaloc
Tamarind
Tamarind is a tree in the family Fabaceae. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic .-Origin:...
), camisa de chinos, and arroz caldo (also known as arroz caldoso)
Known as Chinos Manila among the local population, the Filipinos worked the huge tobacco plantations much like how they did in the present provinces of Ilocos Sur
Ilocos Sur
Ilocos Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Vigan City, located on the mouth of the Mestizo River is the provincial capital...
, Tarlac
Tarlac
Tarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Luzon Island. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west...
, Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra and Ilocos Sur to the south...
, Cagayan
Cagayan
Cagayan , the "Land of Smiling Beauty", is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Tuguegarao City and is located at the northeastern corner of the island of Luzon. Cagayan also includes the Babuyan Islands to the north. The province borders Ilocos Norte...
and Isabela in their home country. During that time, the Spanish colonizers had a virtual monopoly of the tobacco trade through their company, the Tabacalera
Tabacalera
Tabacalera is a Spanish tobacco monopoly which was established in 1636, making it the oldest tobacco company in the world . In 1999 the company merged with SEITA of France to form Altadis. Its brands included Ducados and Fortuna....
.
The world renowned La Flor de Isabela cigars (named after her Royal Majesty Queen Isabella II) were first cultivated in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in the Hacienda San Fernando, Hacienda Isabel, Hacienda Antonio and the Hacienda Luisita
Hacienda Luisita
Hacienda Luisita is a 6,435-hectare plantation estate located in Tarlac, Philippines, owned by the Cojuangco family, which includes former Philippine President Cory Aquino and her son, President Noynoy Aquino. It spans various towns in the province...
(all of these haciendas were later purchased by the Tabacalera
Tabacalera
Tabacalera is a Spanish tobacco monopoly which was established in 1636, making it the oldest tobacco company in the world . In 1999 the company merged with SEITA of France to form Altadis. Its brands included Ducados and Fortuna....
or the ). After Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
declared independence, the trade of the Manila Galleons was broken. The Tabacalera
Tabacalera
Tabacalera is a Spanish tobacco monopoly which was established in 1636, making it the oldest tobacco company in the world . In 1999 the company merged with SEITA of France to form Altadis. Its brands included Ducados and Fortuna....
shifted the cultivation of these cigars to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
since the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
was too far to govern without Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in between. The Isabela cigars achieved much fame due in part because of the American's appetite for cigars when Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
was a Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
-style playground before the tenure of President Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
.
Nueva Filipinas was renamed Pinar del Río in 1774 at the same time that the old colonial capital of Guane
Guane
Guane is a municipality and city in the Pinar del Río Province of Cuba.The municipality is divided into the barrios of Cabo de San Antonio y La Fe, Catalina, Cortés, Hato de Guane, Isabel Rubio , Juan Gómez, La Grifa, Las Martinas, Los Acostas, Manuel Lazo , Portales, Pueblo, Punta de la Sierra,...
lost its superiority.
(Previously, the old capital of Guane was named after the Gaane district in the Maluku Islands
Maluku Islands
The Maluku Islands are an archipelago that is part of Indonesia, and part of the larger Maritime Southeast Asia region. Tectonically they are located on the Halmahera Plate within the Molucca Sea Collision Zone...
. During the Spanish times, the area was referred to as Las Islas Moluccas. Gaane in Indonesia is still located in the southern tip of Halmahera island. To this day, the Moluccas island group is the only area in predominantly Muslim Indonesia that has a Christian majority. The Moluccas or Spice Islands is also the scene of ongoing violent communal fighting between Christians and Muslim Jihad groups. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Ternate
Ternate
Ternate is an island in the Maluku Islands of eastern Indonesia. It is located off the west coast of the larger island of Halmahera, the center of the powerful former Sultanate of Ternate....
island was the most important of the Moluccas islands in Indonesia. Ternate island is right off the coast of nearby Halmahera island where the town of Gaane is also located. At that time, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
quarreled over their claim to get hold of the monopoly of the spice trade of the world. In fact, Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I was Queen of Castile and León. She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain. Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor...
(for whom the city of Isabela, Basilan and Isabela (province), Philippiines was named) and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand the Catholic was King of Aragon , Sicily , Naples , Valencia, Sardinia, and Navarre, Count of Barcelona, jure uxoris King of Castile and then regent of that country also from 1508 to his death, in the name of...
coveted the islands so much they sent Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
and many conquistadores to find it. In 1655, however, the Spaniards had to withdraw from the Moluccas in order to concentrate their forces in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. This was to fortify themselves against the threatened attack of a Chinese warlord, Koxinga
Koxinga
Koxinga is the customary Western spelling of the popular appellation of Zheng Chenggong , a military leader who was born in 1624 in Hirado, Japan to Zheng Zhilong, a Chinese merchant/pirate, and his Japanese wife and died in 1662 on the island of Formosa .A Ming loyalist and the arch commander of...
. In moving out of the Moluccas, the Spanish missionary who went with the troops took along with him some 200 Moluccas Christians, better known as Márdikas. To this band of 200 Moluccas Indonesian immigrants can be traced the origin of Chabacano or Creole
Spanish-based Creole languages
-Chavacano:Chavacano is a Spanish-based Creole language and the name of the Six Dialects of Spanish evolved words turned into a Creole language spoken in the Philippines...
Spanish in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
).
Afterwards, some Filipinos moved to Havana's big Barrio Chino or Chinatown
Chinatown
A Chinatown is an ethnic enclave of overseas Chinese people, although it is often generalized to include various Southeast Asian people. Chinatowns exist throughout the world, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Americas, Australasia, and Europe. Binondo's Chinatown located in Manila,...
. Others jumped ship to Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. Others sailed back to Sinaloa
Sinaloa
Sinaloa officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales....
and Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
in Mexico. Those with money went to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
or back to Manila (and brought with them Escabeche
Escabeche
Escabeche is a typical Mediterranean cuisine which refers to both a dish of poached or fried fish that is marinated in an acidic mixture before serving, and to the marinade itself...
a la Cubana which is a favorite dish to all Filipinos which they almost always serve using fish). The rest intermarried with the Cuban population.
Those who stayed quickly lost their Filipino ties since many among the Filipinos were like the local Cubans. They can speak Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, they were Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, they have to pay taxes or tributos, and they were treated like slaves by their Spanish masters. (Back in the Philippines, entire provinces were assigned to grow tobacco and nothing more. Those caught stealing a single leaf of tobacco or caught growing the food staple, rice, were hit with sugarcane or sentenced to death by garrote
Garrote
A garrote or garrote vil is a handheld weapon, most often referring to a ligature of chain, rope, scarf, wire or fishing line used to strangle someone....
). Nonetheless, their children survive to this day. That is why there are Filipino or Chinese-Filipino sounding surnames in Cuba, such as Tampico
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
, Magalan (from Magalang or to show respect), Batunbacal (from Batungbakal), Maquilin, Sumayao (to dance), Parian, Mabolo
Mabolo
Mabolo, Velvet Apple or kamagong is a plant of the genus of ebony trees and persimmons, Diospyros...
, Pilapil, Alimoron (from Alimurung), Nacpil, Gotiaco, Piat, Singson or Singzon, Tuason or Tuazon, Hizon or Hison, Dizon or Dison
Dison
Dison is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. On January 1, 2006 Dison had a total population of 14,243. The total area is 14.01 km² which gives a population density of 1,017 inhabitants per km²....
, Hinojosa or Hinohosa, Gandionco, Quiambao, Salambao, Puyat, Edralin, et al.
Important Cuban-Filipinos include the Azcarraga Fessner family, whose patriarch was Marcelo de Azcarraga y Palmero
Marcelo de Azcarraga y Palmero
Marcelo Azcárraga Palmero was the thirteenth Prime Minister of Spain following the restoration of the Spanish monarchy. Azcárraga was also the only Spanish Prime Minister of Filipino descent.-Early life:...
, the first Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Spain with Indian blood, whose mother was a Filipina from the Lizarrabal and Palmero families.
Pinar del Rio was one of the last major cities in Cuba founded by the Spanish.
Economy
The province relies on tobaccoTobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
farming, with Pinar del Río producing 70% of Cuba's crop, used to make the cigar
Cigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
s that are so prized overseas. The best tobacco, used for more expensive cigar brands, is grown in the flat lands of San Juan y Martínez.
Tourism
Viñales Valley
Viñales Valley is a karstic depression in Cuba. The valley has an area of and is located in the Sierra de los Organos, just north of Viñales in the Pinar del Río Province....
, a karstic depression located in the Sierra de los Organos, north of the town of Viñales
Viñales
This article is about the town. For the adjacent UNESCO world heritage site, see Viñales Valley. Viñales is a small town and municipality in the north-central Pinar del Rio Province of Cuba....
. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
in 1999 because of its natural beauty and the traditional agricultural techniques which continue to used in the cultivation of tobacco and other crops there, the valley is a popular hiking and rock climbing location.
Many of the valley’s surrounding hills are dotted with caves which may be explored by visitors and spelunking has become another popular activity in the province (a particularly interesting cave is the Cueva de los Portales, beside the Río Caiguanabo, where Che Guevara
Che Guevara
Ernesto "Che" Guevara , commonly known as el Che or simply Che, was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat and military theorist...
set up his staff headquarters and dormitory as commander of the Western Army during the Cuban Missile Crisis).
Accommodations in and near Viñales have also grown in number in response to growing tourism in the region. In addition to casas particulares (licensed bed and breakfasts in private residences), there a number of hotels some kilometers from the town, such as La Ermita and Rancho Horizontes San Vicente.
Another major tourist destination in the province is Las Terrazas
Las Terrazas
Las Terrazas is a small community and nature reserve in Pinar del Río province, Cuba. Located in the Sierra del Rosario mountain range , it has a number of hotels and restaurants and a large area of secondary forest...
, a unique model village located 20 kilometer northeast of Soroa. Surrounded by mountains, the village was founded in 1971 as part of rural development and reforestation project which spans 5000 ha (12,355 acre). As in other parts of the province, there are several hiking trails which weave through the surrounding mountains. Some companies offer guided hiking tours on a daily basis (in some areas, in fact, a guide is mandatory).
With around 30 diving sites, Pinar del Río is also considered one of Cuba’s premier scuba diving destinations. Cayo Levisa, about two kilometers offshore, is known for its copious black coral and excursions to this cay are afforded by tour agencies based in the province. Another hugely popular location is María la Gorda beach, which boasts many nearby dive sites (as close as 200 m (218.7 yd) from the beach).
An increasing number of tourists also visit the San Diego hot springs, in search of the health benefits reportedly afforded by the warm sulfur-rich waters there. An additional spectrum of health-related services has also become available at this spa, including massages and mud baths.
Municipalities
| Municipality | Population (2004) | Area (km²) | Location | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahía Honda Bahia Honda, Cuba Bahía Honda is a municipality and city in the Artemisa Province of Cuba. Before 2011 belonged to Pinar del Río Province. It is located on the northern shore of the island, in an inlet of the Florida Straits, west of Havana. The sheltered bay that gives the name of the municipality contains an... |
22°54′23"N 83°09′49"W | |||
| Candelaria Candelaria, Cuba Candelaria is a municipality and city in the Artemisa Province of Cuba. Before 2011 belonged to Pinar del Río ProvinceThe municipality is divided into the barrios of Bayate, Carambola, Frías, Lomas, Pasto Rico, Pueblo, Pueblo Nuevo, Punta Brava, Río Hondo, San Juan de Contreras, San Juan del Norte... |
22°44′40"N 82°57′57"W | |||
| Consolación del Sur | 22°30′0"N 83°30′55"W | |||
| Guane | 22°12′2"N 84°05′1"W | |||
| La Palma La Palma, Cuba La Palma is a municipality and city in the Pinar del Río Province of Cuba. It is located in the northern part of the province, on the coast of the Straits of Florida, north of Consolación del Sur and north-east of Viñales.... |
22°45′22"N 83°33′12"W | |||
| Los Palacios Los Palacios, Cuba Los Palacios is a municipality and city in the Pinar del Río Province of Cuba.The municipality is divided into the barrios of Limones, Macurijes, Paso Real, Santa Mónica, Santo Domingo, Sierra and Urbano.It was founded in 1760.-Demographics:... |
22°34′57"N 83°14′56"W | |||
| Mantua Mantua, Cuba Mantua is a municipality and city in the Pinar del Río Province of Cuba.It was founded in 1719 under the name Guane del Norte. In 1866 it was established as a municipality... |
22°17′27"N 84°17′14"W | |||
| Minas de Matahambre Minas de Matahambre, Cuba Minas de Matahambre is a municipality and city in the Pinar del Río Province of Cuba.It was declared a National Monument of Cuba.The municipality faces the Gulf of Mexico to the north, where the cays of the Colorados Archipelago are developed off-shore.... |
22°34′57"N 83°56′57"W | |||
| Pinar del Río | 22°25′33"N 83°41′18"W | Provincial capital | ||
| San Cristóbal San Cristóbal, Cuba San Cristóbal is a municipality and city in the Artemisa Province of Cuba. Before 2011 belonged to Pinar del Río Province.-Demographics:In 2004, the municipality of San Cristóbal had a population of 70,830. With a total area of , it has a population density of .... |
22°43′1"N 83°03′4"W | |||
| San Juan y Martínez San Juan y Martínez, Cuba San Juan y Martínez is a municipality and city in the Pinar del Río Province of Cuba.San Juan has its own hospital with a fully functional maternity ward as well as a "Polyclinic" treatment center, both open 24 hours.-Economy:... |
22°16′0"N 83°50′2"W | |||
| San Luis San Luis, Pinar del Río San Luis is a municipality and city in the Pinar del Río Province of Cuba. It is centered mainly on agriculture , stock raising.... |
22°16′59"N 83°46′4"W | |||
| Sandino Sandino, Cuba Sandino is a municipality and city in the Pinar del Río Province of Cuba.The town is located close to the coast and as such, fishing is the main economic resource of this place... |
22°04′52"N 84°13′18"W | |||
| Viñales | 22°36′55"N 83°42′57"W |
Source: Population from 2004 Census. Area from 1976 municipal re-distribution.
Famous people from Pinar del Río
- Omar AjeteOmar AjeteOmar Ajete Iglesias is a former baseball player, who starred for the Cuban National Series' Pinar del Río Vegueros and the Cuban national team....
- baseball player - Juan CastroJuan CastroJuan Gabriel Castro is a former Mexican professional baseball infielder. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, and Philadelphia Phillies, during his career...
- baseball player - Luis Giraldo Casanova - baseball player
- Peter Henry EmersonPeter Henry EmersonPeter Henry Emerson was a British writer and photographer. His photographs are early examples of promoting photography as an art form...
- photographer - Alexei RamirezAlexei RamírezAlexei Fernando Ramírez is a Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop for the Chicago White Sox...
- baseball player - José ContrerasJosé ContrerasJosé Ariel Contreras Camejo is a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently with the Philadelphia Phillies...
- baseball player - Pedro Luis LazoPedro Luis LazoPedro Luis Lazo Iglesias is a top pitcher in Cuban baseball. He is used predominantly as a reliever in international competition, although he is a starter in the Cuban National Series, where he plays for Pinar del Río...
- baseball player - Omar LinaresOmar LinaresOmar Linares Izquierdo is a former Cuban baseball player. Linares, who played third base for the Cuban national team and for Pinar del Río and Vegueros in the Cuban National Series wearing the number 10 on his jersey, is considered one of the greatest Cuban players of all time...
- baseball player - Julio Romero - baseball player
- Rogelio Garcia - baseball player
- Silvia CostaSilvia CostaSilvia Costa Acosta-Martínez is a former high jumper from Cuba most known for winning medals at the 1985 IAAF World Indoor Championships and the 1993 World Championships in Athletics. She also has three medals from the Summer Universiade...
- high jumper - Emeterio GonzálezEmeterio GonzálezEmeterio González Silva is a Cuban javelin thrower, whose current personal best throw is 87.12 metres, achieved in June 2000 in Jena.-Achievements:...
- javelin thrower - Ioamnet QuinteroIoamnet QuinteroIoamnet Quintero Alvarez is a former high jumper from Cuba who won the bronze medal in the women's high jump contest at the 1992 Summer Olympics and also competed at the 1996 nad 2000 games. She won a gold medal at the 1993 World Championships in Athletics.-External links:...
- high jumper - Pablo RomeroPablo RomeroPablo Romero Hernandez is a former Cuban amateur boxer best known for winning two light-heavyweight gold medals at World Championships. The dominant light-heavy of the eighties he never participated in Olympics as his country boycotted both the 1984 and 1988 games...
- boxer - Juan Carlos LemusJuan Carlos LemusJuan Carlos Lemus Garcia is a Cuban boxer, who won the gold medal in the men's Light Middleweight category at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona....
- boxer - Ariel Hernandez - boxer
- Pedro Pablo PerezPedro Pablo PérezPedro Pablo Pérez Márquez is a Cuban professional racing cyclist. Known as "Pedro Pablo" by fans and competitors alike, Pérez is a five-time winner of the Vuelta a Cuba, a Pan American Games medalist, many times the National Champion of Cuba and a winner of international cycling events across the...
- cyclist - Yarisel Romero-Triathle
- Mijain Lopez - wrestler
- AlejandroAlejandroAlejandro is the Spanish form of the name Alexander.It may also refer to:* Alejandro de Humboldt National Park , a national park in Cuba...
- wrestler - Marlenis CostaMarlenis CostaMarlenis Costa is a Cuban volleyball player, world champion and Olympic champion. She was a member of the Cuban winning team at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic games.She became world champion in 1994 and in 1998.-References:...
- volleyball player - Alejandro RobainaAlejandro RobainaAlejandro Robaina was a Cuban tobacco grower.-Biography:Robaina was born in Alquízar in La Habana Province of Cuba but he grew up and lived most of his life in the renowned tobacco-growing Vuelta Abajo district of Pinar del Río Province where his family had been growing tobacco since 1845...
- famed tobacco grower - Frank DelgadoFrank Delgado (Cuban songwriter)Frank Delgado is a Cuban musician, and a member of the novísima trova, heir to the nueva trova movement.- Biography :...
- singer/song-writer - Willy ChirinoWilly ChirinoWilly Chirino, born April 5, 1947 in Consolación del Sur, Pinar del Río, Cuba, is an entertainer and singer in the salsa style.-Early Family Life:...
- singer/song-writer - Jose Jordan - scientist
- Pedro Pablo Oliva - painter
- Rudy PérezRudy PérezRudy Pérez is a Cuban American composer, producer and Sound engineer specialized in Latin Ballad whose songs have been very successful. He is considered one of the most outstanding creators in the field of international pop music...
- Composer - Dagoberto Valdez - religious leader/writer