4 Best Sights in Bayamo, Eastern Cuba

This two-story house on the north side of Parque Céspedes is the birthplace of Céspedes himself. It has been a museum since 1968, the centennial anniversary of the signing of the Cuban Declaration of Independence, and is filled with period furniture and the belongings of the Cuban patriot. Also on display is the printing press on which Céspedes published Cuba's first independent newspaper.

This eclectic museum is housed in the birthplace of composer and violinist Manuel Muñoz Cedeño (1813–95). There are exhibits on the region's colonial history and its geography.

Bayamo's central park is a charming square with large trees and long marble benches. It's still the center of local life, and a good place to drink in the rhythms of a quiet Cuban town. Horse-drawn carriage rides are available from here.

At the square's center is the granite-and-bronze statue of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, the hero of the Ten Years' War. He wrote the famous "Grito de Yara" ("Shout of Yara")—the declaration of independence from Spain—which he read aloud on October 10, 1868, after freeing his slaves. Look also for the statue of Perucho Figueredo, who wrote Cuba's national anthem; its words describe the valor of the local townspeople: Run to the battle, Bayamenses / Let the motherland proudly watch you / Don't fear death / To die for the motherland is to live. On the east side of the square is the Ayuntamiento, the old town hall where Céspedes abolished slavery after founding an independent republic briefly in 1868.

One of Bayamo's most peaceful spots is the Plaza del Himno, northwest of Parque Céspedes. The so-called anthem square is dominated by the Iglesia de San Salvador. First built in 1613 and rebuilt several times starting in 1740, the church is famous as the first place "La Bayamesa," Cuba's eventual national anthem, was sung in 1868. Its stone-and-wood interior has been restored, and it's open to visitors late in the afternoon, before the 5 pm mass.

The plaza is also the home of Casa de la Nacionalidad Cubana, the town's archives. It's not officially open to the public, but you can ask questions of the staff and maybe have a peek at the antique furniture and interior courtyard. A list of cultural events happening around town is usually posted here.

Southeast of the plaza is the Iglesia de San Juan Evangelista, a church that was partially destroyed in the 1869 fire but whose tower remains intact. The Retablo de los Héroes is a monument to Cuban independence fighters, from Céspedes to Celia Sánchez (who, in addition to being a revolutionary, was also Castro's lover and confidante).