Ybor Square

In the heart of Ybor City, Tampa’s historic district, stands a testament to the city’s booming past: Ybor Square. Ybor Square is not just a building; it’s a living storybook of Tampa’s journey from a humble village to the “Cigar Capital of the World”. Originally built in 1886, Ybor Square was the first brick structure in Ybor City. It housed the cigar factory of Vicente Martinez Ybor, a Spanish immigrant who dreamt of creating a thriving community. Picture the scene: over 1,100 skilled cigar makers, their hands moving with practiced precision, crafting tens of thousands of Ybor’s famous El Principe de Gales cigars each day. The air, thick with the aroma of tobacco and the rhythmic hum of conversation, would have been electrifying. But Ybor Square’s story isn’t just about cigars. These very steps, now known as the Jose Marti Steps, witnessed fiery speeches by the Cuban revolutionary Jose Marti. Imagine the crowds gathered, their hopes for a free Cuba ignited by Marti’s passionate words. As the cigar industry declined, Ybor Square found new life. In the 1970s, it was revitalized as a marketplace, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Today, Ybor Square houses a mix of offices, shops,restaurants, and even the Church of Scientology, each telling a chapter in the ever-evolving story of Ybor Square. As you explore Ybor Square, remember, you’re walking through history, experiencing the legacy of a dream built on tobacco, community, and resilience.