The Athens of Cuba, city of caciques and conquistadores, pirates and islanders, poets and singers, rivers and landscapes. picturesque and historical at the same time, killings, the Venice of Latin America

Possessing a cultural heritage that makes the nation proud and popularly identifies it as the Athens of Cuba, the city of Matanzas is experiencing renewal on the eve of its 325th anniversary. On October 12, 2018, the city will dress up to welcome all those who wish to fall in love with one of the most beautiful cities on the island and celebrate their name day between rivers and bridges.
Founded on October 12, 1693 with the name of San Carlos and San Severino de Matanzas. The Spaniards called it the Venice of America for its rivers, walkways and canals. It is crossed by three mighty rivers: The Canímar, Yumurí and San Juan, and its numerous tributaries, for this reason it is also called The City of the Bridges.
Its cultural and literary development began in 1813, the year in which the Golden Age of Matanzas began. Those were the times when José María Heredia made verses and theatrical essays. His musical tradition has been well known within Cuban culture. It was here that on January 1, 1879, the Danzón Las Alturas de Simpson was performed for the first time, by the authorship of the Miguel Faílde from Matanzas, recognized as the National Dance of Cuba.
Cradle of our poet and enamored woman with blue eyes and beautiful verse, Carilda Oliver Labra, saw her go to the immortality of the memory of her land this year, on the eve of her anniversary. With joy and sorrow in the soul, Matanzas, The Athens of Cuba, dismisses his girlfriend with a verse of his own, Matanzas, Cuban and universal.

Todo te debo, Matanzas:
La Biblioteca, el estero,
tener alma y no dinero…
Te debo las esperanzas.
 A mi pecho te abalanzas
Con una pasión tan fuerte
Que no basta con saberte
en mi sangre, detenida:
ya que te debo la vida
te quiero deber la muerte.

Carilda Oliver Labra