This
region was named Nueva Filipinas (New Philippines) about half of
the decade of 1770 and it was not until 1778 that the region acquired
its definitive name.
The economical development of this region was mostly based on the
tobacco crops. That is the reason why the population from the westernmost
region of the province was the wealthiest. According to chronicler
Miró Argenter, in the region of Vuelta Abajo when the insurrectionist
forces, led by General Antonio Maceo, arrived from the east in 1895,
the mostly wealthy inhabitants rushed to form a cavalry regiment
with armed people and went before the presence of the general to
be under his command. They were crucial in attaining the last triumphs
of the Invasion heading for Mantua, Pinar del Río's westernmost
region. In just three months the Invasion had achieved its objectives.
Along the last war for national independence, Pinar del Río
played an active role. On November 30, 1956, fifty patriots of the
region rose in arms to support the disembark of Granma Yacht in
the distant southeastern coast.
The assassination of teenager patriots Sergio and Luis Saíz
Montes de Oca by soldiers of the Batista tyranny deeply moved the
people of the zone and caused an increase on clandestine struggle
in the city. Eventually, owing to the intellectual and literary
vocation of the murdered youngsters, the foundation Hermanos Saíz
(Saíz brothers) was founded to promote and gather young exponents
of art along the country.
