Central Park
The emergence of San Antonio de los Baños dates back to the period of Spanish colonization in Cuba. The first settlers settled on small plots of land along the AriguanaboRiver when, in 1723, tobacco farmers rebelled against repression.
In the Royal Decree ofSeptember 22th,1794, the foundation of the town was formalized byGabriel Maria Cardenas, 2nd Marquis of Monte Hermosoand Justice Chief of the Villa. On May, 1795 the City Council was established and began the official history of San Antonio Abad which became San Antonio de los Baños by the famous baths in the Ariguanabo River, thence, the gentile "ariguanabense".
This town has a vast revolutionary history since the time of the colony. Vivanco brothers, Porto, Jesus Planas, Daniel Gispert, and Colonel and Doctor, Matias Duque de Estrada Perdomofought against Spanish colonists. Rosa Robe, collaborated with the mambises and was elected in posterity as patriot of the municipality. The organization of the Necessary War led by José Martí also received the support of Ariguanabo in Tampa and Key West, when many tobacconists paid funds for the Cuban Revolutionary Party. The war for the independence of Cuba, continued in San Antonio de los Baños at the stage of the pseudo-republic. The Ariguanabo workers fomented revolutionary actions, to the point that the anti-imperialist leader Julio Antonio Mella was motivated to visit the town and attend the birth of the Communist Association of Cuba, in San Antonio, led by delegates Miguel Valdes and Emilio Rodriguez.
In the revolution of the thirties, Rafael Valdés, Julio Pérez, the martyrs of Corojal, among other children of San Antonio de los Bañossacrificed their lives. Several labor unions used silence as a protest demonstration against the tyrant Gerardo Machado, when he visited the ariguanabensetobacco company known as TRUST.
Following the coup of Batista in 1952, years were marked by the participation of Ariguanabenses on the strike of 1957, following the assassination of Frank País in Santiago de Cuba, and the Revolutionary strike of 1958.
From January 1959, Ariguanabo experienced remarkable transformations in the economy, specifically in the agricultural sector with the production of tobacco and vegetables. Enabling new health facilities, educational, cultural and sports centers, shopping, recreational and tourist agencies, the municipality transformed the environment.
In San Antonio de los Baños, it was created the first Revolutionary Popular Militias of Cuba, in 1959. Two years later, it was tested the fighting capacity of the militiamen, before the US bombing of the Air Base. Battalion 164 captured many mercenaries in the sands of Playa Giron.
The lands of Angola and Ethiopia also were soaked with the blood of several Patriots of San Antonio de los Baños: Santiago Figueroa Cruz, Roberto Pulido Sandoval, José Manuel León Pérez, Roberto Cabrera Lazo and David Raul Puig Mendez, along with Roberto Diaz Perez, Evaristo Rodríguez Pérez, Julio de los Santos Acosta Espinosa, Alberto Ulloa Sanchez, and many others make up the long list of internationalist combatants fallen on African soil.
The municipality hoards vast traditions, which form part of the historical-cultural panorama of Cuba. Humorismo distinguishes San Antonio de los Baños, recognized as the ‘’Villa del Humor’’, for being the birthplace of renowned caricaturists who transcended their art to other parts.It is the permanent headquarter of the International Graphic Humor Biennial, an event that helps to form aesthetic values in the population.
These are sons of Ariguanabo; repentistas: Angel Rodriguez and Jose Miguel ValienteMarichal, the poetess Ana Nuñez Machin; the singer Silvio Rodriguez; painters, sculptors and caricaturists: Eduardo Abela, René de la Nuez, Ruben Suarez and Jose DelarraQuidiello; scientists: Eduardo BernabeOrdaz and AlayónGiraldoGarcia and many other personalities who with their work helped form the identity of San Antonio de los Baños.
