By San José de las Lajas, in Mayabeque

Very close to Havana, just over 30 kilometers southeast, is San José de las Lajas. Crossed by the Central Highway and also close to the National Highway, this city is the head of the municipality of the same name and the provincial capital of Mayabeque.

However, its history is much older than that of the province in which it is currently located, one of the two youngest in Cuba, having been created just 15 years ago.

Don Quijote de la Mancha Park, in San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

Old railway station in San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

Popularly known as San José, the origins of this town date back to the colonial period. Although there were previously aboriginal settlements in the area and later, once in the colony, herds and farms were established, the town did not begin to take shape until the end of the 18th century.

The construction of a winery at a point on the road that linked Havana with Güines, and then the construction of a church, favored the settlement of neighbors in the place. Precisely, the date of inauguration of the Catholic temple, in 1788, is taken today as its founding date.

Camilo Cienfuegos Park, with the iconic roundabout and the church of San José, in San José de las Lajas. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

Building of the La Fraternidad Society, today a store, in San José de las Lajas. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

San José took its name from the church, which in turn was also that of an existing farm in the area. As for the flagstones, this refers to a type of flat stone abundant in those parts that, like the saint, is represented on the municipality’s coat of arms.

Over the next two centuries, the town continued to grow, driven by milestones such as the establishment of businesses, the construction of a theater in 1860, the arrival of electricity at the beginning of the 20th century and, shortly after, the Central Highway. In addition, the area was also involved in the struggles for independence and later, those of a revolutionary nature.

Interprovincial bus terminal, in San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

The so-called Four Corners of San José de las Lajas, in Mayabeque. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

Although it never became one of Cuba’s main cities, San José has maintained its local and regional relevance. Before becoming the capital of Mayabeque, it was also one of the main towns of the old province of Havana.

With emblematic sites such as its main park, its iconic roundabout and the church of the same name, San José de las Lajas also suffers today the impact of the severe economic crisis, emigration and many problems spread throughout the island. This Sunday, photojournalist Otmaro Rodríguez brings us closer to its places and current daily life through his images.