It is the second most populated province of Cuba, preceded by the capital: Havana. The territory that occupies at the moment comprised of the old province of Oriente, until in 1976 after proclaiming the new political-administrative division it was constituted as a province.

Its head municipality is one of the seven towns village founded by Diego Velázquez in the first moments of the conquest and colonization of the Island of Cuba by Spain. From 1515 it became capital until the middle of the sixteenth century, when it was displaced by the former Village of San Cristóbal de La Habana. Its urban historic center was declared a National Monument on October 10, 1978.

The province, including the cays, has a land area of 6,170 km², making it one of the four smallest in the country, along with Havana and Cienfuegos. It is located in the eastern end of Cuba; It limits to the north with the provinces of Granma and Holguin, to the south with the Caribbean Sea, to the east with the province of Guantánamo and to the west with Granma. Because of its political-economic importance, it is considered the second most important province in the country.

Compartir / Share