Unique natural balcony overlooking the city of Holguin, the Hill of the Cross (Loma de la Cruz) characterizes this northeastern city, distant 770 kilometers from Havana, welcomed Pope Francis on September 21 on his first visit to Cuba.
Unique natural balcony overlooking the city of Holguin, the Hill of the Cross (Loma de la Cruz) characterizes this northeastern city, distant 770 kilometers from Havana, welcomed Pope Francis on September 21 on his first visit to Cuba.
Initially known as the Cerro Bayado, the small height of 261 meters over sea level took its present name on May 3, 1790,when Antonio de Alegría, friar of the Franciscan order, arrived at its Summit and placed there a blessed wooden cross, allegedly to prevent epidemics and catastrophes.
At the beginning of the heroic Cuban war of Independence, on October 10, 1868, the Hill of the Cross acquired great importance when it was considered a strategic stronghold, for the visibility from its height not only over the city of San Isidoro de Holguin, but a great distance beyond.
Consequently, a tower named Numancia, that during the war of 1895 was replaced by the fortress known as Vigia, where a heliograph, device transmitter of signalsand messages through the use of mirrors that allowed to communicate with other defensive systems of the region.
It was not until 1927, when a square began to be built up there, an oratorium, two viewpoints and a stairway of 458 steps, whose first stage was ready at the beginning of the 30s last century, but could only be declared concluded in 1951.
The truth is that friar Alegria's action also served to initiate a festive religious tradition: the Romerias of the Cross, -similar to those held in Spain-that marked the day when, according to the Bible, St. Helen, found the Cross of the Calvary.
So, every 3rd of May, the hill, illuminated and decorated for the occasion, received thousands of believers who, accompanied by a military band or an orchestra, climbed to where the cross stands carrying with them flowers, candles and stones to put them at the foot of the cross and ask for three wishes.
Over two centuries later, the tradition was rescued by young creatives of Holguin grouped in the Brothers Saiz Association, who each year organize the Romerias of May and make of this city of the Cuban east the capital of young art.
As part of the festivities, participants crown the summit of the Loma de la Cruz together with its peers of other latitudes, but now carrying with them the Ax of Holguin, a replica of the Taino aboriginal ax and also symbol of the so-called city of parks.
The High Pontiff climbed the Loma de la Cruz on September 21 to bless the city and its inhabitants, after saying mass in the Square of the Revolution Mayor General Calixto García.
Source: PL