Havana, May 8th, 1867
“… I want for you, as well as for myself, a supreme happiness that the imagination presents to me; something far superior to everything that is seen in life, and that I have only felt by touching reality, on some occasions when I was by your side I heard you. “
Ignacio Agramonte.
The summer of 1866 gave Cuban history one of his most beautiful loves: that of Ignacio Agramonte and Amalia Simoni. Young people endowed with vast culture, the result of study and an active social life in the cultural settings of their hometown Puerto Príncipe, where it is presumed that their courtship began. Due to Ignacio’s studies and business in Havana, distance took over most of their courtship, which meant a greater dedication of both to feed the passion.
The relationship
The most divine testimony of this process remains, the letters from Agramonte to Amalia. Loaded with beauty and sincerity, with great literary values that places it among the most notable of Cuban romanticism. Each of its lines are charged with a longing for closeness, with that imperious need for one another, with the courage that allowed passion to be kept alive despite difficulties, and above all, the loyalty they professed.
There are several places in the city of waterpots that the traces of this love give added value. The Simoni country house is perhaps the most marked example of this and especially its patio. There they enjoyed those long-awaited visits in the returns of Agramonte to Camagüey, becoming an oasis of tenderness. In the distance, the epistles echoed over and over again the moments lived there, highlighting every detail of the place, gesture and sensation savored in it.
Wedding
After two intense and difficult years of courtship, it was time for the long-awaited wedding. During the entire process of preparations, the choice of the house where they would settle down as a family and the smallest details, found their best allies again in the letters. “… I already wish to see myself back in Camagüey; but must of all that P. Almanza gave us the nuptial blessing. What a dear date it will be for me that we receive it! ”.
On August 1st, 1868, the long-awaited moment materialized. The majestic church of Our Lady of Solitude was the place chosen to seal the union of one of the most sublime, idyllic and imperishable loves that today is an indissoluble part of the spirit and soul of our city.
War
The enjoyment of such a longed-for marriage was short. A few months after the wedding, the Ten Years’ War would break out and Agramonte would soon organize his troops to support the cause. Distance was taking over the already official family. Agramonte would surrender to the Homeland as he had done to his Amalia and he would turn into these the two main causes for which to fight. “To always live with my idolized angel in an independent Cuba is my most vehement desire.”
Two beautiful offspring would be born of this love and they became Amalia’s strength to continue living after that May 11th, 1873, when her husband would give her life to the fight for Cuban independence. She, until the moment of her death, on January 23rd, 1918, would continue to support the cause for which hers Ignacio fought.
Every August 1st the bells ring over the city of Agramonte. They celebrate new marriages that exalt love above all feelings. But above all the reasons, tribute is paid to those two souls who found in eternity the perfect space to never be apart.
Bibliography
Cento, E & Pérez, R & Camero, J. (2018). Para no separarnos nunca. Cartas de Ignacio Agramonte a Amalia Simoni. Casa Editorial Verde Olivo. La Habana.
Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García
