Bayamo is the capital of Cuba's Granma Province. The area is known for two major historical facts: the first War of Independence started there, after Creole planter Carlos Manuel de Céspedes freed his slaves in October 1868 and Fidel Castro and 81 rebels arrived there at Cabo Cruz, on 2 December 1956. Their airplane was called Granma, hence the province's name.
As a result there are countless historical sites around Bayamo, including the place where José Martí was shot.
Bayamo is centered on the shady park of Parque Céspedes. In the park are numerous statues of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and Perucho Figueredo, who composed Cuba's national anthem in 1868. In front of the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall), on the park's northern edge, Céspedes proclaimed independence for Cuba in 1868.
Bayamo is a good place to stay if you want to visit the Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra (Sierra Maestra National Park), just south of town. There are several hotels and restaurants in Bayamo, but the town receives very few tourists. Bayamo is 670 km southeast of Havana.
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