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| Pinar
del Rio

Pinar
del Río
City:
Capital city of Province
Pinar del Río
Named after
a pine-tree forest at the shore of the Río Guamá.
First cigar factory was opened in 1760. The city has a huge
amount of jineteros. Pinar is not a charming place to visit,
but for the real Cuba-Junky a must visit.
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The
city of Pinar del Río (Pop. 120,000)
is the capitol of the province of the same name.
The name, meaning "pine of the river,"
refers to the tall pines that grace river banks
around the province, and especially flourish near
in the extreme western side of the island.
The
city of Pinar del Río is in fairly well
upkeep by Cuban standards, especially considering
the nationwide shortages of paint and construction
materials. Like Havana,
Pinar del Río features many beautiful pieces
of beautiful architecture. Pinar del Río
has a particular abundance of highly decorated,
well maintained neoclassical buildings.
Historically,
the city of Pinar del Río the and surrounding
area have been important in tobacco production.
In the 18th century, smugglers seeking to evade
the Spanish' monopoly on the tobacco trade chose
this area because of its distance from the government
in Havana, as well as the prime soil and conditions. |
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sugar cane became Cuba's primary cash crop, and
single greatest source of economic income, however,
the importance of Pinar del Río's tobacco
crop fell and the city suffered from administrative
neglect. Today, Pinar del Río manufactures
some of Cuba's finest cigars, using tobacco leaves
grown near the city. Pinar del Río is still
considered an unimportant city by many Cubans, despite
its size and economic significance relative to the
rest of the towns in the province.
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Pinar
del Río is home to many topnotch education
and health care facilities, including the University
of Pinar del Río, various vocational schools,
and a well-respected nurses' academy.
Pinar del Río is not a top tourist destination
in its own right, but as the area's largest city,
plenty of tourists pass through for a day or two.
Among
the unique attractions offered in this city are
cigar factory tours and gift shops, la Casa de
la Culture (the House of Culture), and the beautifully
restored Milanes Theater. |
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To
Do in Pinar del Rio |
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Casa
Natal de Antonio Guiteras Holmes
About this revolutionairy
mans life in 1930
Maceo Oeste #52 / Ormani Arenano |
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Cathedral
de San Rosendo
Build 1883
Maceo este #3 / Gerardo Medina |
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Centro
Provincial de Artes Plastiacs Galeria
Local art exhibitions |
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Fabricia
de Tabacos Francisco Donatien
Cigar Factory
Maceo Oeste #157
Tel:
82/75-3424 |
The
principal attraction in town is Fábrica
de Tabacos Francisco Donatién, Calle Antonio
Maceo, just off the Plaza de la Independencia.
Several fine brands are rolled at this renowned
cigar factory. You can walk through the timeless
rolling station, where a caller reads news and
short stories to keep the rollers interested.
You'll also visit rooms where the final selection
and grading, labeling, and boxing take place.
You can buy some of the wares here, or at the
well-stocked Casa del Habano across the street.
The factory is open Monday through Friday from
9am to noon and 1 to 4pm, Saturday from 9am to
noon. Admission is $5, and includes a guided tour
that lasts around 15 to 20 minutes.
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Fabrica
de Bebidas Casa Garay
Brandy factory
Isabel Rubio Sur #189
E/ Ceferino Fernandez y Frank Pais
Tel:
82/75-2966 |
The
other main attraction in Pinar del Río
is the Casa Garay Fábrica de Guayabitas
del Pinar , Calle Isabel Rubio, 3 1/2 blocks south
of Calle Martí. This little factory produces
the town's signature Guayabita del Pinar liquor.
They produce two types, dulce (sweet) and seco
(dry). Both are cane liquors distilled with the
fruit berries of a local bush. I like the seco
quite a bit. It's a good quality sipping liquor
that, if you stretch your imagination, is almost
brandylike. The factory is open during the same
hours as Fábrica de Tabacos Francisco Donatién.
Admission is $1, and usually includes a quick
guided tour and a stop at the tasting room. Bottles
of Guayabita are on sale for around $4.
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More >>
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| Museo
de Ciencias Naturales Sandalio de Noda |
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Local
flora and fauna
Marti Este #202 / Av Pinares |
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Museo
Provincial de Historia
History (local)
from Indian till now
Marti Este #58
E/ Colon y Isabel Rubio |
Museo
Memorial
Antonio Guiteras
Holmes
Maceo No. 52, Pinar del Río |
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| Museo
de Ciencias |
Naturales
Tranquilino Sandalio de Noda
Martí No. 202, esq. a
Ave. Comandante Pinares
Pinar del Río
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Palacio
de Guash
Martí, esq.
a Comandante
Pinares y Hnos. Saíz,
Pinar del Río |
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Teatro
José Jacinto
Milanés
Martí, esq. a Colón,
Pinar del Río |
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| Banks |
Banco
de Credito y Comercio
Marti Este #32
Open Mo / Fri 8 am to 3 pm |
Banco
Financiero Internacional
Gerardo Medina Norte #44
Open Mo / Sat 8 am to 3 pm
Sun 8.30 am to 12.30 pm |
| Post Office
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Post Office
Marti Este #49 / Isabel Rubio |
Phone |
Centro
Llamado
Marti del Este 333 |
Emergency |
Hospital Provincial
Leon Cuervo Rubio
Carretera Central |
Farmacia Marti
Marti del este #50 / Isabel Rubio |
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