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, but for the real Cuba-Junky
a must visit.
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.
As
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.
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.
About
the making of cigars from A to Z
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