Santiago de Cuba’s Naval Battle Archaeological Site Declared National Monument
Santiago de Cuba’s Naval Battle Cultural and Natural Heritage Archaeological Site was declared National Monument during a ceremony held at San Pedro de la Roca Morro Fortress, World’s Cultural Heritage.
Within the framework of 2015 Simposub in Santiago de Cuba, headed by Vicente Gonzales, the great-grandchildren of Vice-admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete – Angel Luis Cervera Fantoni , a researcher on economic and historic sciences and expert on the 1898 battle, and Pascual Cervera de la Chica, president of Cervera Foundation –, accompanied by Rear Admiral of Spanish Navy, Pedro Garcia de Paredes, paying an official visit for this ceremony; Gladys Collazo, National Heritage Director; UNESCO representative Olga Rufin; Jose Carlos de Santiago, CEO of the Excelencias Group; Maria Intxustegui, underwater archaeologist; scuba divers, underwater photographers, representatives of Mundo Latino, participated in an moving ceremony where a wreath was placed so as to pay tribute to the people that passed away during that historic naval battle, when the Spanish empire lost its power and the United States’ gained momentum.
The wreath was laid by scuba divers from different Spanish autochthonous communities, such as Andalusia, Barcelona, Madrid and the Basque Country, as well as Cuban experts.
Spain’s embassy in Havana supported this development by means of Ambassador Francisco Montalban, Military Attaché Colonel Jose Pardo de Santallana, who has been involved in this project over the past two years, and other officials.
A commemorative plaque was unveil during this solemn ceremony, also with the presence of local authorities of Santiago de Cuba, Raul Fornes and Reynaldo Garcia, president of the People’s Power at the province, and Minister of Culture Julian Gonzalez.
The Archaeological Site stretches for nearly 120 kilometers along the coast and it witnessed the unevenly-matched naval battle between the squadron led by Spanish Vice-Admiral Pascual Cervera and US Rear Admiral William Sampson’s, where all Spanish ships were sunk.
Source: Excelencias Group
