Santiago’s Street Named after Catholic Saints

The names of streets at the historic core of Cuba’s oldest village, Santiago de Cuba, have different origins. There are 36 streets with names related to the Catholic Church, 22 of which have been named after patron saints. I will specifically describe two of them: our city’s longest street and the shortest one. I’m talking about Santo Tomás and San Rafael streets, respectively, which are part of the north-to-south axis.

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1-    Santo Tomás is a multi-nominal street. It was called San Fernando in 1514, but it was later baptized Santo Tomás because of the position of the homonymous church. The name was changed to Tomás Estrada Palma during the republican stage as a tribute to the first president of the neocolonial Republic. Afterwards, it was named after the Santiago-born revolutionary Félix Pena. But the people know it as Santo Tomás. It stretches from Paseo de Martí to Veinticuatro de Febrero Avenue or Trocha, so it’s part of the north-to-south axis. Santo Tomás is the longest saint-named street as it is 750-meter long. Tomás is a Hispanic name that comes from Aramean language and Latin Thomas that stands for twin. Santo Tomás was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. His feast takes place on July 3.

2-    San Rafael is the popular and official name of the street, from Paseo de Martí to San Ricardo Street. It’s the shortest street that has been named after a saint in the city’s historic core, with only 100 meter. Rafael is a Hispanic name that comes from Hebrew and means heal, so the people know him as divine healer. His church is based in Cayo Granma and the feast is celebrated on October 24.

The rest of Santiago’s catholic or saint-named streets are:

In north-south axis: 

Santiago, San Joaquín, San Pío, Padre Pico, San Juan Nepomuceno*, San Fermín, Santo Tomás, San Pedro, San Félix, San Bartolomé, Salvador*, San José, San Miguel,  Dolores*, Padre Quiroga*, San Agustín and Monseñor Barnada**, Paraíso and Tres Cruces. 

From east to west:

Santa Isabel, San Ricardo, San Antonio, San Mateo, Providencia, San Germán, San Francisco, San Jerónimo, Callejón del Carmen, San Tadeo, Catedral, San Basilio, Santa Lucía, Santa Rita, San Carlos, Santa Rosa and San Fernando.