¡Viva Ybor! Cuban and Spanish Cultures in Tampa’s Ybor City: Have you Googled
“Best Things to Do in the Tampa Bay Area” and wondered, “What is Historic Ybor City?” Is it
pronounced “eye-bore” or “e-bor”? In this course we will explore the unique history of Ybor
City, an area of Tampa that was once the cigar-making capital of the world. Founded by
entrepreneur Vicente de Ybor in the 1880s, Ybor City became the home of several groups of
immigrants who came to Florida to work in the cigar factories. Many of these immigrants were
Cuban and Spanish, and Ybor City became known as Tampa’s “Latin Quarter,” Cigar factory
workers were educated and politically conscious, and they created mutual aid societies, raised
money for Cuban Independence, and protested against fascism. After a series of historical
changes–the Great Depression, World War II, and the mechanization of cigar making– many of
the cigar factories closed and a large portion of the original communities moved to newer areas
of Tampa. Although Ybor City has changed significantly since its prime, it remains an important
part of Tampa’s culture. In this course we will read historical and anthropological studies of
Ybor City, the speeches and poems of José Martí, the father of Cuban independence who visited
Ybor City 20 times (and survived an assassination attempt), and Nilo Cruz’s Pulitzer Prize-
winning play, Anna in the Tropics, which is set in an Ybor City cigar factory and explores the
power of literature. We will also go on a field trip to Ybor City and eat a Cuban Sandwich. ¡Que
viva Ybor! project, students will have the opportunity to make their own short films.
“Best Things to Do in the Tampa Bay Area” and wondered, “What is Historic Ybor City?” Is it
pronounced “eye-bore” or “e-bor”? In this course we will explore the unique history of Ybor
City, an area of Tampa that was once the cigar-making capital of the world. Founded by
entrepreneur Vicente de Ybor in the 1880s, Ybor City became the home of several groups of
immigrants who came to Florida to work in the cigar factories. Many of these immigrants were
Cuban and Spanish, and Ybor City became known as Tampa’s “Latin Quarter,” Cigar factory
workers were educated and politically conscious, and they created mutual aid societies, raised
money for Cuban Independence, and protested against fascism. After a series of historical
changes–the Great Depression, World War II, and the mechanization of cigar making– many of
the cigar factories closed and a large portion of the original communities moved to newer areas
of Tampa. Although Ybor City has changed significantly since its prime, it remains an important
part of Tampa’s culture. In this course we will read historical and anthropological studies of
Ybor City, the speeches and poems of José Martí, the father of Cuban independence who visited
Ybor City 20 times (and survived an assassination attempt), and Nilo Cruz’s Pulitzer Prize-
winning play, Anna in the Tropics, which is set in an Ybor City cigar factory and explores the
power of literature. We will also go on a field trip to Ybor City and eat a Cuban Sandwich. ¡Que
viva Ybor! project, students will have the opportunity to make their own short films.
- Teacher: Cristina Delano