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Cuban symbols
Cuban flag
Coat of arms
Royal palm tree
Tocororo bird
Butterfly jasmine
Christopher Columbus discovered Cuba on October 27th, 1492. The conquest and colonization periods led to the extermination of the aboriginal inhabitants and then the Spanish colonists imported black people from Africa and enslaved them. The resulting mixture defined Cuba’s population and culture.
For four centuries Cuba was the main gateway to the vast Spain’s American empire, and cities such as Havana, Matanzas, Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus, Camagüey, Bayamo, Baracoa and Santiago de Cuba stand as sentinels to the bygone colonial glory. The Spanish constructed protective fortresses of solid stone to keep pirates and their European enemies out, and these outposts still guard Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose charm is truly captivating.
On October 10th, 1868, began the Cuban struggle for its independence from Spain, a colonial rule which lasted for four centuries. The United States intervened at the end of the Independent War and established a pseudo republic in 1902. On January 1st, 1959 the Revolution commanded by Fidel Castro triumphed and brought essential transformations in the life of the country.
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