About Us

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Santiago de las Vegas, CUBA is one of the oldest and most economically significant cities in the province of Havana. Located not far from the national capital’s center, it is the most populous city near José Martí International Airport, Cuba’s busiest airport.

About four kilometers southwest of Santiago de las Vegas, in the town of El Rincón, lies the San Lázaro Sanctuary, possibly the most visited religious site in Cuba by both Catholic and Lucumí/Yoruba devotees. It is estimated that around 50,000 worshippers begin their pilgrimage near the sanctuary on the eve of December 17, with even more arriving the next morning to pay homage to San Lázaro on his feast day.

As a historic center, this honored city plays a crucial role in Cuba and the New World. The tomb of Major General Antonio Maceo and Francisco "Panchito" Gómez Toro, the aide and son of Generalísimo Máximo Gómez, is located in El Cacahual, not far from this city.

Santiago de las Vegas and the nearby city of Bejucal were the sites of one of the earliest large-scale protests against European colonial rule in the Americas. In February 1723, about 500 tobacco growers revolted against the Tobacco Factories’ attempts to control the price and sale of their crops. The conflict escalated beyond words, and twelve farmers were hanged in the Jesús del Monte groves by order of Captain General Guazo. This act was condemned by Bishop Valdés and the local population, though the captain general faced no government repercussions.

During the August 1906 revolution, a battle took place in Santiago de las Vegas between the two opposing factions, resulting in several deaths and the burning of part of the municipal archives.

In 1683, tobacco farmers settled on land belonging to the royal estates of Sócalo Hondo, Managua, Bejucal, and Chorrera. To meet their spiritual needs, Bishop Compostela built a small chapel, later dedicated to Santiago de Compostela. By 1688, homes were being constructed around it for the first colony of tobacco growers and their families. The population quickly grew, and in 1694, the first stone was laid for a proper church, continuing under the same dedication to Santiago.

The town was officially recognized as Villa de Santiago de Compostela de las Vegas on June 18, 1725, by Royal Decree, granting it an extensive jurisdiction. Its political and economic importance continued to rise, and in 1824, it was exempted from tribute payments required every fifteen years. It was then declared a city and permitted to erect a statue of King Ferdinand VII, which was placed in the Plaza del Recreo. In 1831, the king honored the city with the title "Faithful City and Most Illustrious Municipality."

In 1836, a local government office was established but later moved to Bejucal in 1840, only to return to Santiago de las Vegas in 1845. It is one of Cuba’s municipalities that has undergone the most territorial jurisdiction changes while maintaining its essential identity and character.

• The church, whose first stone was laid in 1694, was completed in 1800, though one of its towers was destroyed by the 1846 hurricane.
• The cemetery was built in 1814 and closed in 1895, replaced by a new one.
• The magnificent City Hall was constructed in 1911.
• The population grew from over 3,300 in 1861 to nearly 11,000 in 1953.

Santiago de las Vegas has evolved to meet the demands of changing times. Initially, it was one of Cuba’s most important tobacco-growing regions. As tobacco cultivation shifted westward to Vuelta Abajo, the area turned to sugarcane production. Later, minor fruit crops became the dominant agricultural product, and eventually, cattle ranching flourished, achieving great success.

In the early 20th century, alongside its thriving agriculture, Santiago de las Vegas embraced industrialization, which dominated Cuba’s economy during the first half of the century. The city became home to numerous factories producing paint and chemical products, particularly along Rancho Boyeros Avenue, as well as a booming footwear industry.

The land transportation industry also played a crucial role in Santiago de las Vegas. Geographically located between Havana’s expanding metropolitan area and the rural regions to the south and southwest, it became a major transit hub. Until the 1960s, passengers frequently transferred between buses at its well-organized terminal, which was a miniature version of Havana’s national terminal.

Translated from:

https://www.guije.com/pueblo/santiagov/index.htm