Ciego de Avila

For centuries, Ciego de Avila was little more than a night stopover in Cuba for those crossing from east to west. Then tourism came to Cayo Coco and changed everything. The name comes from its founder, Jacomé de Avila, a reserve where weary travelers crossing the island could rest and it soon became a thriving settlement. Founded in 1840, this small town with display windows under the porch is the modern provincial capital of Cuba. The novelty of Ciego is the three-block stretch that has been pedestrianized and adorned with lampposts, benches, outdoor art, the Verdas areas and The Boulevard. You can see how the Cuban economy works.