Page 155 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

WESTERN CUBA  153

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
American
Ciro Redondo Nueva Cemetery Practical Information
Gerona Playa Bibijagua Municipality with a special
Finca el Abra Chacón statute. * 86,000.
Presidio Modelo n Ecotur, (46) 327 101.
Transport
~ Rafael Cabrera Mustelier,
La Demajagua Carretera La Fé, km 5, (46) 322
Júcaro 300. g daily catamaran from
Atanagildo Cajigal Batabanó (see p302), lasting
2–3 hours. For information,
call (46) 324 415.
La Fé
La Victoria
El Chalet
La Reforma
Argelia Libre Criadero
Key
Julio Antonio Mella Motorway
Major road
Minor road
Unpaved road
Cayo Piedra
Punta
ISLA DE LA JUVENTUD del Este

E Museo Municipal de
Nueva Gerona
Calle 30, e/ 37 y Martí. Tel (46) 323
791. Open 9am–4:30pm Tue–Sat,
8am–noon Sun. & 8 Note: fee for The austere façade of the Presidio Modelo prison
photography may apply.
E Museo de Historia Natural P Presidio Modelo guards could keep a close watch
Antonio Núñez Jiménez 4 km southeast of Nueva Gerona, on all the prisoners. Guards and
Calle 41, esq. 54, No. 4625. Tel (46) 323 Reparto Delio Chacón. Tel (46) 325 112. prisoners never came into con-
143. Open 9am–noon & 1–5pm Tue– Open 8am–4pm Tue–Sat, 8am–noon tact with one another. Guards
Sat, 9am–noon Sun. & 8 Note: fee Sun. & 8 Note: fee for photography circulated in underground
for photography may apply. may apply. galleries, keeping constant
On the road that connects the watch over the prisoners above.
capital with Playa Bibijagua, a It was in the Presidio Modelo
popular beach of black sand that the organizers of the attack
frequented by the inhabitants on the Moncada army barracks
of Nueva Gerona, is Cuba’s most in Santiago, led by Fidel Castro,
famous penitentiary. Originally were imprisoned in October
built by Gerardo Machado (see 1953. They were liberated in
p50), it was modelled on the an amnesty in May 1955.
famous pan op ticon in Joliet, At the entrance to the first
Illinois (US), and converted into pavilion is cell 3859, where
a museum in 1967. The prison Castro, despite his isolation,
consists of tiny cells in the managed to reorganize the
interior of four enormous revolutionary movement,
multistorey round cement starting with the defence plea
Strolling along the arcades on blocks. In the middle of each he made in court, History Will
Nueva Gerona’s Calle 39 stood a sentry-box from which Absolve Me (see p51).
For keys to symbols see back flap

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