Culture of Cuba

Cuban culture has been richly colorful and traditionally diverse, often due to the affect of influences and factors affecting the country.

St. Cristobal Cathedral in Havana

The architecture of Cuba, like most Latin American countries, is directly influenced by Spain, which governed Cuba as a colony before the island's independence. St. Cristobal Cathedral, located in Havana, is modeled off the baroque architecture often found in foundations in Spain. The Spanish influence is known as Cuban Colonial Architecture. Such types of buildings can be found all across Cuba, dating back from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Like it's architecture, Cuba also has foreign influences on its music. A notalble genre of Cuban music is Afro-Cuban, a style that originated from the prescence of African slaves on the island. Combining elements of traditional Cuban music with the style of African tribe chants, the form is one of Cuba's most popular forms of music and entertainment.

As most of Cuban culture seems to be, the islands art is a traditional blend of European, African, and North America artforms. The above painting is by Irene Albalat. It draws from  Impressionistic styles that originated in Europe.

Cuban cigars have long been a cultural icon of Cuba. Since the Communist Revolution in 1959, these cigars have been illegal on the US market due to the economic embargo. However, smuggling of Cuban cigars has been common and a profitable enterprise.

Another favorite cultural apsec of Cuba has always been its food. In particular, its cuisine is especially popular. A mixture of African, European, and Caribbean traditional flavors, the island's cuisine. The ingredients are mostly natural, with the use of scare spice. The way of cooking cuisine in Cuba is by frying.

Sources:
http://www.havanacubatravel.com/architecture.html
http://www.cubaluxuryhotels.com/Cuban-Architecture.htm
http://cubanfoodrecipes.com/