They may not be the first place one thinks of visiting while on vacation, but cemeteries can be fascinating spots to get a different perspective on local history and culture. This is true anywhere, but Santiago’s Santa Ifigenia is especially interesting. It is the final resting place of some of Cuba’s best-known political figures, including the “father” of Cuban independence, José Martí; Cuba’s first post-independence president, Tomás Estrada Palma; Fidel Castro; and internationally beloved musician Compay Segundo of Buena Vista Social Club. The cemetery was declared a national monument in 1937.
