Visit Moncada Barracks

Named for a hero of the Wars of Independence, when Cuba threw off the shackles of Spain, Santiago's Moncada barracks would go on to become far more famous for its links to another revolution.

On July 26, 1953, a small band of rebels led by Fidel Castro attempted to storm the barracks. The event marked the beginning of the Cuban Revolution, with the revolutionary movement even taking the date of the attack as its name – the Movimiento 26 de Julio.

A visit to the barracks, now converted into a museum, is a must for anyone interested in Cuba's modern history.