Guantanamo is a city located in southeastern Cuba, famous for its perpetual lease to the United States for a military base and the Guantanamo Bay prison, where individuals accused of various crimes are held.

Guantanamo was founded in 1820 by Catalans and French, and its population consisted largely of slaves and free people. Guantanamo is also known in the region for its sugar plantations, with sugarcane and cotton production being the main economic sectors.

Guantanamo Attractions and Entertainment
Among the regularly built streets, several impressive architectural structures stand out. Among them are the Palacio Salcines, a market square, and the Rubén López Sabariego cultural center.

In 1919, hydraulic engineer José Leticio Salcines Morlote realized his vision of building a palace right in the center of the city. This majestic structure, Palacio Salcines, is built in the eclectic style. Its neoclassical dome is adorned with the sculpture La Fama, which has been the city’s symbol since 1992.

The former Spanish casino, now the Rubén López Sabariego Cultural Center, served as a meeting place and entertainment venue for Spanish immigrants in the early 20th century. The main façade of this building is eclectic, and its columns adhere to classical architectural canons.

Also in Guantánamo, you’ll find the Church of Saint Catalina De Ricci, construction of which began in 1837, but work was halted for two years. The last architectural changes were made in 1959-1960, but the church remains in its original location and maintains its original dimensions. North of Guantánamo Bay lie the Sagua-Baracoa and Toa mountain ranges, home to some of the planet’s last remaining intact tropical rainforests, home to numerous endangered plant and animal species. In 1996, these areas were united and became part of Alexander von Humboldt National Park, one of the Caribbean’s key biosphere reserves.