Gran Piedra Park in Eastern Cuba Will be Renovated

SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba, Oct 22 (acn) A comprehensive project for the renovation of La Gran Piedra (The Great Stone) area is underway in that place on the outskirts of this city, belonging to Baconao Park, declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1987.

On the occasion of the celebration next year the 500th anniversary of the founding of Santiago de Cuba city, important actions will be undertaken there including the repair of Gran Piedra hotel, belonging to Islazul Group.
Marisol Rodriguez, Delegate of Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR by its Spanish acronym) in this territory, said that the 27 rooms will receive resuscitation in accordance with their quality standard.

The project also includes the physical plant and the redesign of gastronomic services in line with the features and advantages of this place, Rodriguez said.

A new and well-equipped point of sale, with exceptional location, already provides services, Rodríguez added.

The project will repair the access to the viewpoint and will add observation points and signs to the path to inform visitors of the natural, historical, cultural and heritage attractions of the place, where the big rock lies, at 1 227 meters above the sea level, she noted.

It also aims to rescue nature tourism in this important area, for which the trails must be revived, she added.

These actions would also facilitate access to La Isabelica museum, former manor house of the hacienda of the same name, where it was placed the Heritage Site plate of the archaeological landscape of the first coffee plantations in southeast Cuba.

La Gran Piedra is considered a unique product in Santiago de Cuba, and will be included in the project ´Los Caminos del café¨ (Paths of coffee), of the Office of the Curator of the City, which will link old farms of that eastern hilly region.

This natural attraction with immense tourism potential, since it allows to interact with the flora, fauna, climate and landscape, in addition to visit the hotel and rural communities, is 23 km far from Santiago de Cuba city.