The headquarters of the Casa de Cantabria in Havana, hosted on May 15 the presentation of the book Santander in Havana: architectural milestones prepared by Marlene Vázquez Pérez in co-authorship with Julio Ángel Larramendi.

According to Marlene Vázquez, director of the Center for Martian Studies, the idea of carrying out this research arose in 2019 when an international colloquium was held in that Spanish city on the visit made by José Martí to the city of Santander in October. of 1879.

The knowledge of this relationship of fluid cultural exchange from Havana to Santander is due to the studies of Jorge Capote Abreu, a Cuban researcher and professor who lives there; and to the Doctor of Science, Julio Ángel Larramendi, author of the magnificent photographs illustrating the book. “And why this book?” Marlene Vázquez wondered. “First, because there is a very important group of buildings in Havana, some of which were built by people from the Spanish autonomous region of Cantabria or lived in it and modified it by giving it other uses,” she explained.

According to Marlene Vázquez, figures such as Pedro Pablo Rodríguez, a widely known historian and researcher at the Centro de Estudios Martianos, an institution where he directs the project for the critical edition of the complete works of Jose Marti. It is also worth noting Ibrahim Hidalgo Paz, a prestigious researcher in Martí studies, a historian with extensive experience, and Daniel Taboada, who is an essential figure in addressing Cuban architecture.

“I believe that it is a shared history between two nations that continue to have that consanguineous link, both by culture and by kinship in the strict sense of the family, in blood,” Marlene emphasized.

The presentation was preceded by the words of Reinaldo Márquez, Julio Larramendi and Jorge Capote, participants in the project. Among the attendees were Julio Santamarina, president of the Federation of Spanish Societies of Cuba, and Alberto Cartaya, its secretary, as well as Reinaldo Rojas Márquez, president of the Casa Cantabria in Havana.

For his part, the Spanish ambassador, Ángel Martín Peccis, expressed feeling moved by the work embodied, which represents one more way of bringing the Cantabrian presence closer to our genesis and vice versa. Endearing ties that unite two towns. He thanked the entities involved in the project and the Cantabrians and their descendants in Cuba.

The prologue of the book is in charge of the general director of External Action of the Government of Cantabria, María Rosa Valdés Huidobro.

The Casa Cantabria in Havana was founded on November 20, 1910, under the name of Centro Montañés, by a group of emigrants from that region established in Cuba. During 113 years of uninterrupted work, the society has deployed an extensive program of activities based on its associates, paying special attention to natives and their descendants, standing out for cultural, recreational and fellowship events organized annually.

Currently, Casa Cantabria has more than 500 associates counting for their work with the support of various Cuban and Spanish institutions and the help of the Government of the Autonomous Community. He maintains ties with Cantabrians and descendants in other Cuban provinces and the houses of Cantabria in other countries, while maintaining ties of brotherhood with the Beneficencia Montañesa and the Casa de Cantabria in Camagüey. He is an active member of the Federation of Spanish Societies of Cuba (FSEC).

Photo: Reinaldo Rojas, Ángel Martín Peccis, Marlene Vázquez, Julio Larramendi and Jorge Capote.