The late 19th-century “Gilded Age” socialites of the northeast sought a subtropical retreat for the harsh winter months. The Tampa Bay Hotel, built in 1891, and the Don CeSar, built in 1928, are excellent examples of the grand establishments…

In 1897, the Florida Brewing Company opened for business, becoming Florida’s first brewery. It remained the state’s only brewery until 1913. Vincente Martinez Ybor and his partner Edward Manara founded the brewery and built it on the local…

Juan More came to Tampa after fighting with the Spanish army in the revolution of 1875 in Cuba. When More arrived in Tampa he had a piece of paper tucked in his pocket that contained his Cuban bread recipe. That recipe would change the face of…

Guavaween was an annual Halloween festival in Ybor City that was extraordinarily popular for more than a decade. The first Guavaween was held in 1985. It was started by the Ybor City chamber of Commerce as a fundraiser to help the Tampa Playmakers,…

Fiesta Day celebrates the ethnic diversity of Ybor City. In its early years, Ybor City was primarily an immigrant district, populated by Cuban, Spanish, Italian, and German immigrants, in addition to a small population of African Americans. These…

The Ritz is one of the oldest and most venerable entertainment venues in Ybor City. The Ritz began life as the Rivoli Theater. It was built in 1917 by M. Leo Elliot. Though numerous renovations have changed the layout of the building, the classic…