Viñales

Viñales on the map of Cuba

Viñales is a town founded in 1879 and municipality in the Cuban province of Pinar del Río. It is located in the homonymous valley Valle de Viñales about 30 km north of Pinar del Río, between the low mountain ranges of the " Cordillera de Guaniguanico " and has 27,771 inhabitants ( 2012). The degree of urbanization of the Municipalities is 58 percent, the city has 16,150 inhabitants.

Since the opening of Cuba for tourism to Viñales has become the most visited site in the province. From the fertile valley floor protrude on rough cone karst mountains, the " Mogotes ", which give the landscape the typical appearance. Two smaller caves ( Cueva de San Miguel and Cueva del Indio ) are located north of the site. 17 km to the west is the largest cave system in Cuba with 46 km stretch, the Caverna de Santo Tomás.

History

Before colonization by the Europeans lived in the region, an indigenous Taíno population. The colonization of the area took place at the beginning of the 19th century by tobacco farmers from the Canary Islands. The first recorded settlement was built in 1871 and is the ranch of Don Andrés Hernández Ramos.

On January 1, 1879, the town was officially founded, at that time there was already a town hall, a school, a church and the park in the city center. During the Cuban revolution in 1959, the armed peasants of Viñales played an important role.

Viñales is a National Monument and was declared by UNESCO in 1999 along with the Valle de Viñales and its agricultural cultivation tradition to the world cultural heritage.

Economy and infrastructure

After agriculture and manufacturing industry, tourism is the main source of income of the residents. Of the 12,700 employees in the municipality 45 percent work in agriculture, where over 60 percent of the revenue of the state sector of the city is generated .. In addition to growing vegetables, especially tobacco production plays a significant role in the quality of the tobacco from the Viñales valley is known internationally. The manufacturing industry is based primarily on the processing of tobacco, there are also a operated within the ALBA textile factory.

Viñales has 189 tourist accommodation facilities, most of which are private pensions (casas particulares ). However, there are also three state hotels and a campsite. In 2011 the site was visited by 42 481 tourists and is thus one of the most popular attractions in the region.

The city has 26 elementary schools and six middle schools, including two high schools. There are also in Viñales five medical facilities: two polyclinics, two special stations for mothers and a home for the elderly.

Viñales has further an art gallery and a cultural center, which also functions as a disco.

Pictures

Cuevas de Viñales, the caves of Viñales.

Views across the Valle de Viñales.

Manuel Rivera -Ortiz: tobacco crop, Valle de Viñales ( 2002).

Farm in the area of Viñales.

Center of Viñales.