OUR CITIES
Discover New Cultures and Connect With People around the World
Volusia Sister Cities is proud to feature the three cities we have relationships with:
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Campeche, Mexico (Established 1995)
Campeche is a uniquely beautiful city founded by the Spaniards in 1540 on the site of a Mayan settlement, Ah-Kin-Pech, with a charmingly modern location on the gulf coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is the capital city of the state of Campeche and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Locals proudly claim that except for Cartagena, Colombia, it is the only walled city the Spanish built in the western hemisphere. Many of the walls are now missing, but the forts or baluartes are still extant and well used for modern purposes such as museums and a botanical garden. The walls were originally built to keep out pirates and punctuated a succession of booms and busts in the local economy.
The colonial architecture in the San Francisco district and the colorful facades and the city square cause a visitor to keep his camera clicking, when he is not visiting the many outstanding restaurants or chatting with the welcoming Campechanos. Its proximity to Merida, the gulf, and the fascinating Mayan ruins makes it a popular destination.
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Bayonne, France (Established 1998)
Bayonne is an adorable city located in an interesting geographical region. It is nice because it is not an overwhelmingly big city yet has enough to do within town and in the surrounding areas to make for a cultural but relaxing vacation. You can enjoy leisurely strolls throughout the city.
Along the river you can stop in at one of the waterfront restaurants to enjoy the local Basque cuisine or walk through the narrow streets of “Petit Bayonne” to enjoy the architecture and see the church St. André. Crossing the river to “Grand Bayonne” there are also quaint streets and stores to see on the way to the cathedral. A must stop is at the chocolate shop Cazeneuf for a cup of their famous hot chocolate. The Musée Bonnat is worth a visit to enjoy the broad collection of artwork there.
Once you have seen the charm of Bayonne there are quite a few interesting destinations in the Basque country which can be day excursions from Bayonne. On the coast is the resort city of Biarritz, the quaint fishing village St. Jean de Luz, and inland is the quaint village of St. Etienne de Baigorry where you can visit a chateau and taste the local wine at the vineyards of Irouleguy. If you are interested in getting a taste of Spain it is just short trip across the border to San Sebastian to experience “tapas,” and a bit farther, you can visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.
Last but not least are the festivals in Bayonne. The friendliness of the town people comes out even more during their summer festival in August.
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Diamantina, Brazil (Established 2012)
Diamantina, in Minas Gerais,has a population of about 50,000 and is located approximately 180 miles north of the state capital, Belo Horizonte, in a mountainous area that is bordered by the Jequitinhonha River. The city was built during the colonial era in the early 18th century and was a center for diamond mining for nearly 200 years. With its well-preserved Baroque buildings and architectural landmarks, the city is designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It has a rich musical heritage and also is an important academic research center led by the Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys. Diamantina is situated along Brazil’s Estrada Real, a centuries old route built by Brazil’s Portuguese colonists to transport gold and minerals from the country’s interior to the coast for transport to Lisbon. The mostly unpaved road today leads tourists through the cradle of Brazilian culture.