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Granma
/ Manzanillo
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Manzanillo is famous for La Demajagua, the sugar mill estate of Carlos
Manuel de Cespedes and Celia Sanchez, who was the local guerilla
leader of the M-26-7 Movement during the landing of the Granma. La
Demajagua lays about 10 kilometer to the south of the city. In the city
itself you can visit a big monument for Celia Sanchez and a nice Plaza de
la Revolucion.
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Manzanillo, Museo Historico La Demajagua
(CW 2001)
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La Demajagua
was the sugar mill estate of Carlos
Manuel de Cespedes. On October 10, 1868 Cespedes started the First
War of Independence against Spain by freeing his slaves. Besides
resistance against Spanish rule, slavery was the big issue in Cuba. A
lot of wealthy farmers wanted independence for Cuba, but they didn't
wanted the end of slavery. Due to this a lot of farmers helped the
Spanish to prevent the abolition of slavery. For the same reason the
front against the Spanish was not really united. The war dragged on for
10 years. In 1878 a pact was signed which granted the rebels amnesty. In
the meantime Cespedes died in a Spanish ambush.
At La
Demajagua you can visit a small museum and some remains of the sugar
mill, including the bell to call the slaves. The bell was used to
announce Cuba's Independence.
A peculiar
thing is a big palm with a plaque in memory of the first Cuban (and
Latin American) cosmonaut Arnaldo
Tamayo Mendez.
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Manzanillo, 10 kilometer south of Manzanillo on the road to Media Luna. If
you pass the town of San Francisco you have to turn right after 3
kilometer. From here it is another 2 kilometer in the direction of the
sea.
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More Museo Historico La Demajagua |
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Manzanillo, The entrance
(CW 2003)
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Coming
from Yara, at the entrance of the district of Manzanillo you will see
this marking with a sculpture of Celia Sanchez and a copy of the bell,
which Carlos Cespedes rang in 1868 as a signal that he has freed his
slaves. |
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Coming from Yara, at the entrance of the district of Manzanillo.
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Manzanillo, Monument for Celia Sanchez
(CW 2003)
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During
the landing of the Granma, Celia Sanchez was the underground leader of
the M-26-7 Movement in the district of Manzanillo. In remembrance of
Celia Sanchez a monument has been erected in Manzanillo. The monument
consists of stairs crossing two streets, culminating in a flowered wall
with the portrait of Celia Sanchez, surrounded by peace loving white
pigeons and sunflowers (probably her favorite flowers). |
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Along Martires de Vietnam Street at the intersection with San Silvestre
and Caridad Street.
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More
Monument for Celia Sanchez |
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Manzanillo, Plaza de la Revolucion
(CW 2003)
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The Plaza is located along the Circunvalacion Camilo Cienfuegos, near 8
Avenida at the West end of the town.
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Manzanillo, Simbolo de la Laboriosidad del Pueblo Manzanillero
(CW 2003)
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This
well has been constructed in 1991 (32nd Anniversary of the Cuban
Revolution) as a symbol for the zeal of the people of Manzanillo. |
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At the corner of Avenida 1 de Mayo and Gral. Benitez.
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