Tampa the Cigar City

Saturday night, we had the Rod Stewart show at the Tampa Arena scheduled. So we took the opportunity to visit a little of this city on the west coast of Florida.

In the afternoon, we went to the historic district of Ybor City which is a few trolley stops from downtown.

Founded in the 1880s by Vicente Martinez Ybor, a Spanish immigrant cigar maker, Ybor City was populated by immigrants mainly from Spain, Cuba and Italy. For nearly half a century, the workers of Ybor City made millions of cigars each year in different factories in the district. After World War II, Ybor City was gradually abandoned and left by its residents. But recently, part of the district has been renovated and several buildings converted into restaurants, bars, night clubs and cigar shops.

The city has kept its original architecture: red brick buildings with wrought iron cornices and balconies, which give it a touch of New Orleans.

In the evening before the show, our steps led us to a completely different neighborhood from what we had seen in the afternoon: Sparkman Wharf. The architecture is much more modern, the atmosphere very family-friendly. We meet on the quay to have a drink, eat or simply listen to the saxophonist who plays on the outdoor stage while the children play soccer among themselves.