History and culture starred here today in the celebration of the 153rd anniversary of the beginning of the independence struggles in Cuba, and the opening of the day for the 328th anniversary of this western city.

In the Plaza de la Vigía, near the foundational site of the city, head of the province of the same name, a wreath was placed in front of the statue of the Unknown Mambí and the curator of the town, Leonel Pérez Orozco, stressed the necessary unity to accompany the destiny of the country.

From this square began an itinerant artistic show with the title Raices Hispañas, continued by the park of the cogwheel, which hosted the Raices Africanas, and concluded in the Libertad Park with a retreta of the provincial concert band.

A highlight of the program was the restarting of the gatherings 'South of my Throat' (Al sur de mi garganta) for the centennial, in 2022, of the local poet Carilda Oliver Labra, held at the Palacio de Junco museum.

The evening was named after one of the most relevant poetic works of Carilda (1922-2018), as she was known in literary and popular circles. The emblematic author won in 1998 the National Literature Award.

Matanzas was founded on October 12, 1693, and is considered the first modern city in Cuba because of the urbanistic criteria used in its design and foundation.

Located 100 kilometers east of Havana, Matanzas was founded by some 30 families from the Canary Islands, Spain, who were specially brought by the crown of that Iberian nation.