The Village of
Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Baracoa, the first village, capital and bishopric of Cuba, was settled by the advanced conqueror Diego Velázquez in August 15th, 1511. But its history begins in November 27th, 1492, with the arrival of Cristóbal Colón, who admired, wrote that very day in his dairy: “...the most beautiful thing of the world... Walking through it was something marvelous to see the forests and freshness and the very clear water, and the birds, and amenity, so that he says that he seems he would ever get out of there.” There is an unique material evidence from this event, the Cross of la Parra placed by the Admiral four days after his arrival, and that was found by Diego Velázquez and his expedition force. It is the only one kept from the 29 placed by Cristóbal Colón during his journey across the American continent. In the XVI Century, Bishop Morell de Santa Cruz ordered to move the cross to one of the altars of the parochial church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Baracoa, where it can be admired.
The toponymic comes from Arauac origin and means “existence of the sea”. It is also calle Landscape City, City of the Rains, City of the Mountains, City of the Waters, Capital of the Wood, the Coconut and the cacao. Its nature, surrounded by mountain ridges, embelished by a vigorousa vegetation of virgin woods, plethoric of endemic flora and fauna, with crystalline rivers and beaches surrounded by uvas de caletas, almond trees and coconut trees, confer it a true distinctive seal, compared with the rest of the country.