The Taller Alfarero , a ceramics workshop where traditional techniques are still used, is also worth visiting. In 1666, it joined the long list of Caribbean ports sacked by Captain Henry Morgan, the notorious English pirate. Santiago witnessed the start of the Cuban revolution when, in July 1953, Fidel Castro's troops stormed the Moncada Barracks . The influence of French planters and Haitians who settled in Santiago de Cuba during the 19th century gives the city a distinctively Caribbean flavour. Although many buildings were destroyed by earthquakes, the city's dramatic setting at the foot of the Sierra Maestra Mountains makes for a worthwhile visit.
Many houses feature intricate ironwork balconies and narrow external staircases.
Also of interest is the Casagrande Hotel , located adjacent to the square in the Parcque Cespedes area, and a favourite haunt of the British author Graham Greene. The Cemeterio Santa Ifigenia is the resting place of many famous revolutionaries, including Jos Mart and the Bacard brothers. Santiago's African heritage has led to a vibrant local culture and many Cuban musical styles, such as the son , have orginated here. Santiago's carnival is the most famous in Cuba. Founded in 1512 by Diego Vel zquez, Cuba's oldest European settlement was accessible only by boat until the 1960s, when a road connecting it to the mainland was constructed.