The Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba includes the remains of several 19th-century coffee plantations found in the foothills of the Sierra Maestra mountains. In the 1800s and early 1900s, eastern Cuba focused mainly on growing coffee. The leftover parts of these plantations show how people worked in hard-to-farm areas and highlight the importance of the plantation system for the economy and society in Cuba and the Caribbean.

In 2000, the Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Description

The World Heritage site includes 171 coffee plantations ('cafetales') from the 19th and early 20th centuries in southeast Cuba. These plantations are divided into seven separate areas.

Each plantation has a different level of preservation. For example, Cafetal Isabelica is completely restored, while others are in poor condition. Despite these differences, all plantations share a similar design. At the center of each is the owner's home, usually built in Basque architectural style, modified for the tropical climate. Around the home were simple buildings made of weak wood and covered with branches and leaves, used as housing for enslaved workers. Each plantation also includes a stepped drying area ('secadero') for preparing coffee beans, as well as structures for milling and roasting coffee.

History

In the 18th century, French settlers started coffee plantations on the island of Hispaniola. After Haiti became independent in 1804, the French left and moved to Cuba, which was then ruled by Spain. During the 19th century, coffee plantations were built in the Sierra Maestra region. However, these plantations could not compete with those in Brazil, Colombia, and Costa Rica in the early 20th century. Over time, the plantations in Sierra Maestra slowly became less common. Today, only a few coffee plantations remain active.

• Cafetal Isabelica, a place where beans are processed
• Cafetal Isabelica, a drying area called secadero or tendal
• Cafetal Isabelica, tools and chains used by workers
• Cafetal Isabelica, inside the property