Matanzas
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| Matanzas | |
Street overlooking the Bay of Matanzas |
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~26 km²
136,718 (2004)
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0 to 50 m
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| Matanzas | |
Matanzas is the capital of the Cuban Province Matanzas. It is famed for its Afro-Cuban folklore.
Matanzas is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, in the bay of Matanzas (spanish Bahia de Matanzas), 90km east of the capital Havana and 42km west of the resort town of Varadero.
Matanzas is called the city of bridges, of which there are a lot, crossing the tree rivers that traverse the city (Rio Yumuri, San Juan and Canimar) and "La Atenas de Cuba" (the Athens of Cuba).
The city is divided in three suburbs: Versalles, Central Matanzas and Pueblo Nuevo.
As of 2004, Matanzas had a population of 136,718 inhabitants[1].
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[edit] Name origin
The name Matanzas which means massacre refers to a putative slaughter at the port of the same name in which thirty were killed[2]. Only two women, one of these said to be the beautiful María de Estrada, survived, because they were "taken" by a Cacique. María later escaped the "power of the Cacique" and married Pedro Sánchez Farfán in the city of Trinidad.
[edit] Attractions
- Pharmaceutical Museum - established in 1882
- Provincial History Museum - Museo Historico Provincial
- Sauto Theatre - Teatro Sauto - hosts theatre plays, opera, ballet, symphonic concerts
- San Carlos Cathedral
- nearby Bellamar caves
- boating on the Canimar River
- Matanzas bridges
- Casino Español
- Matanzas High School (Palm Coast)
[edit] Sons and daughters of Matanzas
- Lyen Wong - Cuban-German fitness athlete was born in Matanzas in 1974
[edit] References
- ^ Matanzas statistics
- ^ Matanzas legend (pdf)
[edit] External links
- Ciudad de Matanzas - City of Matanzas (spanish page)
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