The cigar-making capital of the world

Baseball is only one aspect of Tampa. Once tourists explore the city, they discover a fascinating ethnic tapestry.

"We keep coming back because Tampa and the surrounding area have such a unique history," baseball fan Gourmant says. "Especially the Cuban and Italian influences."

It starts in Ybor (EE-bor) City, a district northeast of downtown that sprang up shortly after Tampa was incorporated in 1855. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, Cuban and Italian immigrants flocked to the area of red-brick warehouses, creating a hive of commerce and entertainment.

They hand-rolled cigars in the factories during the day, and spent humid nights in cafes along Seventh Avenue, the main drag through the district. At Ybor's peak, hundreds of manufacturers made cigars like the famed Hav-A-Tampa, giving Tampa the title "Cigar-making Capital of the World".