Question: A “zarzuela” is (a) a royal palace in Spain, (b) a briar bush, (c) a Spanish operetta, (d) a seafood concoction or (e) a Spanish word guaranteed to throw non-Spanish speaking people for a loop?
Answer: All of the above.

Music was one key factor in unifying the various ethnicities of Ybor City into a “Latin” community. Read the story of how the dances organized in Ybor City between 1900 and 1950 brought together a cross-section of residents to help create the unique Ybor culture.

In 1912, while still living in Cuba, Carmen Ramirez Esperante was invited by El Centro Español to Ybor City to perform. Their beautiful, brand new building was an extraordinary architectural mixture of Spanish, Moorish and French Renaissance influence. El Centro wanted the first performance held there to be very special, so they invited Carmen and her talented group of actors to Ybor City.