Surrounded by impressive mountains that link the Sierra Maestra to the sea, Santiago is a city of hills and inclined streets, with numerous places of tourist interest and a history linked to struggles for national independence. It is also a city that brings together people of African and Spanish origin, along with descendants of emigrés from the French West Indies. Thus Santiago is a veritable melting pot whose colorful identify is an outgrowth of its rich human heritage. Renowned for its colorful carnivals featuring Chinese trumpets, French tumbas (a kind of drum) and all sorts of revels, the city is also famous for its people, who are hospitable, cheerful, sensual, and imaginative lovers of life, in short, typical West Indians from what has been dubbed the Capital of the Caribbean.

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