What does have Santiago de Cuba that makes so special, loved and needed for this nation, and a little further?
Why so many painters, poets and singers have outlined beautifully naming "cradle and bread", praising it as the land "where are higher palms", shouting loudly "I will go to Santiago", and trapping its essence in a memorable phrase: "is Santiago de Cuba, do not be astonished at anything."

Answers walk scattered around unexpected corners of its geography, but also to the surface of its men and women thrust battles and joy overwhelmed at the pump, something that knows Omar Lopez Rodriguez, who enlivens the arguments slogan that accompanies the celebrations for the birthday of the seventh new village: Five centuries in the heart of Cuba.
"Santiago boasts an extraordinary heritage, and it is not a celebration at all costs, to prove the arguments are tangible.
"He has a vocation to the island because it is a jewel in the country's history; and in 1947 had gathered here researchers from around the country, including Emilio Roig de Leuchsenring and declared 'city history', times later ratified Fidel when from the balcony of the City Council awarded him the honorary title of Hero City of the Republic of Cuba and Antonio Maceo Order.
"Issues that define Cuba as a nation are based in Santiago, including the birthplace of light rum, bolero, trova, in addition to that in the Holy Church Cathedral Metropolitan Basilica, which is the largest category in the country, It was the place where he worked as Kapellmeister, where his creations conceived, Esteban Salas, recognized as the pioneer of Cuban music ".
Along with the contribution to the national, that in itself is commendable, this city has a distinctive international projection.
In that order we could say, for example, that the oldest house in America, where he lived the advancing Diego Velázquez, is in Santiago de Cuba, in the foundation ring of the old village, space in which the City has also latched from whose central balcony, on 1 January 1959, Fidel announced to the world the triumph of the Revolution.
Santiago has what few cities can exhibit: three components of the World Heritage adopted by Unesco, the Castillo del Morro, the French-Haitian coffee plantations, and the French Charity of the East Tomb, jewel of world intangible culture.
But elsewhere, already a National Monument, aspire with every reason and conditions World Heritage Site, including the associative landscape of El Cobre, with mines oldest open sky of America, National Shrine which houses the patron saint of Cuba, the Virgin of Charity, plus cimarronaje place marked on the slave route.

There is also the Santa Ifigenia cemetery, museum of art and history, the Mausoleum to José Martí, our National Hero and the tombs of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, Father of the Nation; Neck Mariana Grajales, Mother of the Fatherland; Perucho Figueredo, author of the national anthem; youth of the Centennial Generation, protagonists of the assault on the Moncada barracks; and distinguished musicians such as Miguel Matamoros, Compay Segundo and Child Saquito.
Similarly wrecks include the whole of the naval battle of 1898, approved as underwater archaeological park, an exceptional category of equity that distinguishes it happened as part of the Spanish-Cuban-American, which marked the end of Spanish rule and War the emergence of the US.
In more recent history excels the assault on the Moncada barracks, a symbol of the nation, then the second military fortress in importance of the country, a jewel of Art Deco architecture, attacked by Fidel and the young generation of the centenary advantage, as a strategy, the Santiago carnival atmosphere.
Here they saw the personalities light of world renown, including José María Heredia y Heredia, first romantic poet of America, and the Lieutenant General Antonio Maceo Grajales, Maceo, whose feats are reflected in the most important manuals military history.
Just men and women of Santiago de Cuba have given this land a unparalleled uniqueness.
This landscape city, which is cut between the sea and the mountains, has in its people the most precious treasure.
For many reasons perhaps one constant startled by a possible earthquake or ciclón- the Santiago and Santiago have taken live intensely, fully indulging in what they do, with joy, the spirit always on top, with an occurrence and joke on his lips.

This mix of cultures is in the singular end, shown in many manifestations, perhaps one of the most distinctive is the unique symbiosis between the African drum and bugle China, with the balance of Santiago conga which nobody resists.
No doubt about that the village arrive at its first five centuries of existence, we are proud of the tangible and intangible riches of our land, treasured over 383 years as a colonial city, 60 as Republican and 56 Revolution, always with the desire to give and do more for her, because this is also a city of the future.