It was founded as San Isidoro de Holgu�n in 1545, and it is named after its founder Captain Garc�a Holgu�n, a Spanish military officer. Prior to 1976, Holguin was located in the province of Oriente.
There are several small city parks such as Parque Infantil, Parque San Jose, Parque San Isidoro, Parque Marti among others, most central the Calixto Garc�a in the downtown area. Close by one finds the galleries Centro Provincial de Arte and Bayado, a library, the club Casa de la Trova, the Mart� cinema, the Theatre Eddy Su�ol, the Province Museum La Periquera, a science museum, and a history museum. From the hill Loma de la Cruz, where a large crucifix is installed, which can be ascended by its 450 stairs, one can oversee the whole city.
Holgu�n has a baseball stadium. The Frank Pa�s International Airport (city code HOG) is connected to Havana and several other world destinations.
The municipality is divided into the barrios of Aguar�s, Aguas Claras, Alcal�, Arroyo Blanco del Sur, B�guanos, Cabezuelas, Cacoc�n, Calder�n, Camaz�n, Cauto del Cristo, Corralillo, Cruces de Purnio, Dami�n, Floro P�rez,Gibara, Guabasiabo, Guayabal, Guirabo, Haticos del Purial, La Aguada, La Cuaba, La Palma, La Rioja, Las Calabazas, Managuaco, Melones, Norte, Omaja, Purnio, San Agust�n, San Andr�s, San Francisco, San Juan, San Lorenzo, Santa Rita, Sur, Tac�mara, Tasajeras, U�as, U�itas, Velasco, Yareyal and Yayal.
The main secondary education institution is the University of Holgu�n
