Sagua La Grande (
La Villa del Undoso), is a municipality and city located on the north coast of the province of
Villa ClaraVilla Clara is one of the provinces of Cuba. It's located in the central region of the island bordering with the Atlantic at north, Matanzas Province by west, Sancti Spiritus by east, and Cienfuegos on the South. Villa Clara shares with Cienfuegos and Sancti Spiritus on the south the Escambray...
in central
CubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island country in the Caribbean. It consists of the 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. Cuba is home to over 11 million people and is...
, on the Sagua la Grande River. The city is close to
Mogotes de JumaguaThe Mogotes de Jumagua are a set of 8 elevated limestone features in the Villa Clara Province of Cuba. They are located within the orographic group Heights of the Northwest in the center-north of the Island of Cuba, two kilometers south-west from the city of Sagua la Grande.They pinnacles are of...
, limestone cliffs. Many
cayA cay is a small, low-elevation, sandy island formed on the surface of coral reefs...
s of the
Sabana-Camaguey ArchipelagoSabana-Camagüey is an archipelago that lines Cuba's north-central Atlantic coast. It is located off the northern coast of the provinces of Matanzas, Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila and Camagüey, and is bounded to the north by the Atlantic Ocean, specifically by the Nicholas Channel ...
are located off the northern coast.
Sagua la Grande was founded in 1812 and established as a municipality in 1842. By the beginning of the 20th century, the city and its port (Isabela de Sagua), were an important commercial center.
Sagua La Grande (
La Villa del Undoso), is a municipality and city located on the north coast of the province of
Villa ClaraVilla Clara is one of the provinces of Cuba. It's located in the central region of the island bordering with the Atlantic at north, Matanzas Province by west, Sancti Spiritus by east, and Cienfuegos on the South. Villa Clara shares with Cienfuegos and Sancti Spiritus on the south the Escambray...
in central
CubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island country in the Caribbean. It consists of the 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. Cuba is home to over 11 million people and is...
, on the Sagua la Grande River. The city is close to
Mogotes de JumaguaThe Mogotes de Jumagua are a set of 8 elevated limestone features in the Villa Clara Province of Cuba. They are located within the orographic group Heights of the Northwest in the center-north of the Island of Cuba, two kilometers south-west from the city of Sagua la Grande.They pinnacles are of...
, limestone cliffs. Many
cayA cay is a small, low-elevation, sandy island formed on the surface of coral reefs...
s of the
Sabana-Camaguey ArchipelagoSabana-Camagüey is an archipelago that lines Cuba's north-central Atlantic coast. It is located off the northern coast of the provinces of Matanzas, Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila and Camagüey, and is bounded to the north by the Atlantic Ocean, specifically by the Nicholas Channel ...
are located off the northern coast.
History
Sagua la Grande was founded in 1812 and established as a municipality in 1842. By the beginning of the 20th century, the city and its port (Isabela de Sagua), were an important commercial center. Presently, its economy is based on the sugar, chemical, mechanical, and food industries. Cattle raising and fishing are other important economic activities.
Two city historians are of note. Antonio Miguel Alcover Beltrán left to the inheritance of the events related to century XIX thanks to his personal interrogations to each one of the authors of history; and at the moment Pedro Suárez Tintín has been in charge to rescue all century XX and leaves from the XXI in his famous “Tintin Collection” that includes newspapers, books, photos, films and videos of all the historical events of the referred time.
Demographics
In 2004, the municipality of Sagua la Grande had a population of 56,097. With a total area of , it has a population density of .
The municipality is divided into the
barrioBarrio is a Spanish word meaning district or neighborhood.-Usage:In its formal usage in English, barrios are generally considered cohesive places, sharing, for example, a church and traditions such as feast days...
s of Baire, Chinchila, Este, General Nodarse, Isabela de Sagua, Jumagua, Malpáez, Oeste and Sitiecito.
Architecture
The city's wide streets and little traffic give it a calm atmosphere.
In recent decades there has been a lack of new construction. Consequently, the older buildings, left over from colonial times, are in a state of decay. One of the most beautiful buildings in this city, El Casino Español (The Spanish Casino) built in 1908, was the meeting place for the Sociedad Sagüera (Social Club of Sagua). The historical center of the city retains the neoclassic essence of its constructions and the layout of its streets.
Personalities
- Mel Martinez
Melquiades Rafael "Mel" Martinez , né Melquíades Rafael Martínez Ruiz, is a former United States Senator from Florida and served as Chairman of the Republican Party from November 2006 until October 19, 2007, the first Latino to serve as chairman of a major party...
, U.S. Senator
- Jose Luis Robau, Patriot
- Wifredo Lam
Wifredo Óscar de la Concepción Lam y Castilla , better known as Wifredo Lam, was a Cuban artist who sought to portray and revive the enduring Afro-Cuban spirit and culture...
, Painter
- Antonio Machín
Antonio Machín was a Cuban singer and musician. His version of El Manisero, recorded in New York, 1930, with Don Azpiazú's orchestra, was the first million record seller for a Cuban artist...
, Singer
- Ramón Solis, Flutist
- Joaquín Albarran
Joaquín Albarrán, full name Joaquin Albarrán Maria y Dominguez was a Cuban urologist who was born in Sagua La Grande, Cuba. In 1878 he went to Paris, where he worked and studied under many renowned physicians...
, Doctor
- Jose Pepe Nuñez, Painter
- Pedro Suarez Rojo, Naturalist
- Emilio Nuñez, Patriot
- Panchito Rodríguez, Doctor
- Concepción Campa, Scientist
- Rodrigo Prats
Rodrigo Prats was a Cuban composer, violinist, pianist and orchestral director. The son of a musician, Jaime Prats, Rodrigo began to study music at the age of nine...
, Music Composer
- Edelmira Sampedro y Robato
Edelmira Ignacia Adriana de Sampedro-Ocejo y Robato was known as Countess of Covadonga after her marriage to Alfonso Prince of Asturias in 1933....
, Countess of Covadonga
External links