CardenasA city of first-time-ever
The city of San Juan de Dios de Cardenas founded in 1828 preserves its classical architectural style, especially in its historic core.
Travelers driving the 10 kilometer road connecting the town from Varadero will be stunned as they watch unusual sculpture works, like a welcoming carved crab at the gateway symbolizing the abundance of these crustaceans in the region. One of the city's exits is dominated by a singular sculpture of a bicycle, the transportation means of choice here, widely used in an urban environment characterized by a mesh of straight streets and flat terrain.
The city's first-time-ever Cardenas is known nationwide as the City of the Flag because this is the town where the national banner was hoisted for the first time in 1850. A monument paying tribute to Christopher Columbus the first public and solemn statue of the Great Admiral in the Americas was unveiled in Colon Square in 1862.
The Jose Antonio Echevarria Museum of History comprises a valuable collection and equally stands for a sightseeing spot from an architectural standpoint. The 100 year old Oscar Maria de Rojas Museum was the second facility of its kind ever founded in Cuba and one of the island nation's most important ones. Its halls treasure valuable and ample collections of history, art, natural sciences, archeology, coins and weapons.
A new and unique center of superb historic and cultural value the one and only of its kind on the island nation, too is the Museum of the Ideological Battle, born on the heels of the heated war waged by the whole Cuban people to prompt 6 year old Elian Gonzalez's return to his homeland.
Other tourist interests in Cardenas Horse drawn buggies pompously hoof and wheel down the streets as they are still pretty much in use for short-haul distances.
The city's industrial heritage is pinned on such places like the Arrechabala Factory, cradle of world class Havana Club rum and a major tourist destination. The old-timed railroad station one of the first ones ever built in Cuba also packs a tourist wallop of its own.
In all, Cardenas is a privileged city in which past and present cohere side by side in perfect harmony.
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