• Submitted by: manso
• Society
• 05 / 22 / 2011

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2011.05.21 - 14:05:52 / radiorebelde.icrt.cu. Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.- The Curator of the eastern Cuban province of Santiago de Cuba, Omar Lopez, announced that the town of “El Cobre” will be declared National Monument for its heritage and cultural values.

Lopez pointed out that this place is likely to be included in UNESCO’s World Heritage Site List, given its significance in the history of mining, slavery and religion in this area.

During a lecture in the Seventh International Meeting on City Image and Memories, he gave details on a plan of conservation and management, which includes several institutions of the territory in the preservation of this site.

Since the 16th century, “El Cobre” became the most important copper mining field in Cuba, until its closure in 2001. In 1519, it was also the place where the first African slaves began to work and where their first uprisings took place.

The Monumento al Cimarron, located in one of the highest mountains on the nearby area, pays tribute to those first riots of slaves, and is included in the Slaves Route sponsored by UNESCO.  

The El Cobre Shrine shelters la Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, the patroness of Cuba, which is worshiped by thousands of Cubans and foreigners in rituals that date back to the 17th century. (ACN)