[lwptoc]
Matanzas is the capital of Cuba’s Matanzas province. It is situated on the northern coast of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of Matanzas (Spanish Bahia de Matanzas), 90 kilometers (56 miles) east of the capital Havana and 32 kilometers (20 miles) west of the tourist town of Varadero. It is known for its poetry, culture, and Afro-Cuban folklore.
Matanzas is known as the City of Bridges because of the seventeen bridges that span the city’s three rivers (Rio Yumuri, San Juan, and Canimar). As a result, it was dubbed the “Venice of Cuba.” For its poets, it was also known as “La Atenas de Cuba” (“The Athens of Cuba”).
Matanzas is regarded as the cradle of the danzón and rumba music and dance genres.