Azua province

1) Physical geography and location

Geography
The Azua province has a total area of 2,531.77 km. It has 5.2% of the area of the
Dominican Republic and it is ranked as the 5th (out of 31 provinces plus the National
District) largest province.
Most
of
the
Azua
province
is
in
a
very
dry valley (the Azua
Valley or Azua Plain); cacti and other plants of dry regions are common in this valley.
The Cordillera Central (in English, "Central mountain range") runs along the northern
half of the province. To the east, there is the Sierra de Ocoa (part of the Cordillera
Central) that separates this province from the Peravia province. To the west, there are
the Sierra Martn Garca and Sierra de Neiba.
The most important rivers are the Yaque del Sur and its tributaries Las Cuevas and
Grande or Del Medio. Other rivers are Ocoa, Jura and Va (that flows through the city
of Azua de Compostela).
The only important road in the province is the Carretera Snchez (Snchez National
Road) that goes through the southern part of the province; the road goes from Santo
Domingo to the western part of the country, to the border with Haiti.
Location
Azua has the La Vega province to the northeast, the San Jos de
Ocoa and Peravia provinces to the east, the Caribbean Sea to the south,
the Barahona and Baoruco provinces to the west, and the San Juan province to the
northwest.
2) History and origin of name /nickname and symbols
Origin of name
The province takes the name from its capital city, Azua de Compostela. Azua was
the Tano name of the region where the city was founded.
History
The town was founded in 1504 by Diego Velzquez, who later went to conquest
the island of Cuba; the Spanish governor of the Hispaniola island at that time
was Nicols de Ovando. The town was in the original region of Azua, where there was a
Tano town and Pedro Gallego had a farm. This place is called now Pueblo
Viejo (in English, Old Town), at about 8 km to the soutwest of the modern city.

The first secretary of the town was Hernn Corts. He lived in Azua from 1504 to 1511,
when he left to Cuba and, later, to conquest Mxico.
Several sugar factories were established around the town and pirates came here to get
the sugar and other products.
In 1751 there was a strong earthquake that destroyed the old town and a new one was
founded on the right (western) side of the River Va, where the modern city is now.
Because Azua is on the road that goes from the western part of the island to Santo
Domingo, the city was destroyed several times during the Dominican-Haitian War
(1844-1856). Two important battles (the Azua Battles) were fought in the city; the first
was on 19 March 1844 and the second on 1849.
Nickname:
Azua is a patriotic province and by developing their cultural heritage has been dubbed
Atenas del Sur, La Ciudad del Sol, La Puerta de la Patria y Rostro de la
Soberana Nacional.
Symbols

Heraldic shield of Azua

Granted by Royal Decree on December 7, 1508, accepting the request of the prosecutors
sent to the effect, Diego de Nicuesa and the bachelor Antonio Serrano supported by
Ovando. The text of the provision reads: "Villa de Compostela, a blue shield and a white
star with white waves below.

3)
Festivities:
Music,
culture and traditions
Azua is called "Las Atenas
del Sur" for its tradition in
the cultivation of literature
and the arts, contributing, in
each of these aspects, the
development of Dominican
culture. Azua has a rich
culture with traditions in
which their diversity is
manifested. This is evidenced in elements such as literature, folklore, music, dance, and
crafts. The festivities of the various municipalities that make up the province of Azua,
usually held in honor of a pattern or religious patron, still accompanied by the village
folk games and folk traditions. Azua Carnival is one of the oldest in the country.
Traditionally it held twice during the year: one in March, celebrating the patriotic dates
and in the period carnivals are held worldwide, and the other in September, for the
festivities in honor of Our Lady of Remedies . Azua's carnival consists in a
disorganized output of popular cojuelos devils, coming out and beat the girls with empty
containers serum, now replaced the old cow bladders. Another is celebrated on 19
March, in commemoration of the Battle of March 19, 1844, mixing festive with
patriotic topics, common in the country. Besides the "Diablos Cojuelos" and other
Carnival own characters, it is customary to perform "El baile de los enmascarados,
known elsewhere as "Dance of the tapes."
4) Religion and important places
Regarding the religion of Azua people, the predominant and foremost is the Catholic,
but there are other denominations, such as the Evangelical, Jehovah's Witness,
Adventist, Pentecostal and Mormon. The Foundation for the Development of Azua, San
Juan and Elas Pia (FUNDASEP) is one of the social work of the Catholic Church that
has benefited the region including the province of Azua.
Important places
Park Duarte
The museum historical and archaelogical Dr. Estrada Torres
The National Park Jos del Carmen Ramirez and the Sierra Martin Garcia park for
hiking and ecotourism.
Ocoa Bay
Ocoa Bay is located south of Azua, with about 9 kilometers of beaches with gray sand
and turquoise water, the beaches are Playa Caracoles, Playa Palmar de Ocoa, playa
Biyeya, playa Chiquita.

El Salto del Ro Grande

Beaches in Monte Rio
Puerto Viejo natural monument: this protected area was created with the intention of
protecting mangroves, islets, reefs, seagrass meadows, marshes and dunes.
The most emblematic city park is March 19. Inside is the monument to the heroes of the
historic battle that date, designed by the Spanish artist Antonio Prats Ventos.
5) Gastronomy
Dominican Republic is an agricultural and cattle country. Because of that, it offers a
variety of enticing dishes which mix Taino, European and African influences in an
explosion of flavor rich in condiments. The Chenchn is one of the typical dishes of the
south, this is made from corn cut into small pieces which is later boiled with various
spices. Chaca, also made from corn, is a dessert made with milk, sugar, cinnamon and
coconut milk. Fish and "Moro of peas" with coconut are also typical of Azua. All these
dishes are very popular in the south of the Dominican Republic, plus these, rice with
beans, a typical dish of the country especially at Easter.
There are also various chips and pastelones or pork rinds and sausage: sausage, sausage
and black pudding are part of popular foods, like the yaniqueque, cake flour fried in
plenty of oil, arepitas corn and cassava torrejitas cod viscera pork and fried or gruisadas
chicken, fried sweet potatoes, tripe, cow leg stew and others.
6) Important people
Great men have dwelt in this town, from its founding until 1511, Hernan Cortes settled
in this city, it was also a notary public of the council. The teacher Don Emilio
Prud'Homme wrote the famous letters of National Anthem, while residing in Azua also
was Councillor and Chairman of the Council of the City Hall building complex in 1893,
also was the creator of the Normal School Perseverance.
Other important figures who lived in this province were Professor Baldorioti de Castro,
Angel Rivera, Trajan Potentini, Eduardo Scalany, Pablo Claudio and the sculptor and
architect Antonio Prats Ventos, who designed in 1949 the Monument to the Heroes of
the Battle of Azua (Battle of March 19).
The illustrious bard Rule Hector Jose Diaz, has been one of the most important poetic
expressions that has Azua. In his honor, has been erected in the village center, the
Centro Cultural Hector J. Diaz.
Writers:
Miguel ngel Garrido
Hctor de Castro Noboa
Renato de Soto
Bartolom Olegario Prez
Hctor J. Daz
Emilia Pereyra

Researchers and historians:

Tomas Alberto Oviedo
Ramiro Matos Gonzalez
Fernando Navarro
Eddie Noboa

Musicians, composers, and singers Azua:

Claudio Pablo: Composer and founder of the Band of Azua
Ramon (Madora) Amador: Folklorist
Olga Lara: singer
Consuelo Gonzalez: pianist
6) Economy
The main economic activity in the province is farming. In the valley, the most
important crops are
and
the
main
products
are banana, plantain, vegetables and fruits like mango.
High
on
the
northern
mountains, coffee and beans are important products.
Fishing is important along the Caribbean coast.
Fishing and dairy farming are also two major economic sectors. Historically, sugar
production has played a leading role. Outside small industries, there are agro-industrial
production plants of tomato paste and other canned products.
Aquaculture:
Azua has various shrimp farming projects. Start with the "Project Dominican-Chinese"
since it was established between the Dominican government and Taiwan.
Mining:
Currently, there are three oil exploration companies, two in Azua basins.
Industry:
This province consists of 9 bakeries, 5 coffee hulling, 5 carpentry workshops, 3
cigarette factories, 2 tailors, one vulcanization workshop, 1 factory of slippers and a
chocolate factory.