Page 234 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

232  CUBA REGION B Y REGION

Around Calle Heredia

Running straight along the bottom of Parque Céspedes,
Calle Heredia buzzes with the sound of guitars, maracas,
percussion and singing. For a performance head to the
Casa de la Trova or the Patio de Artex (see p226). The Museo
del Carnaval displays musical instruments and costumes
from the festivites surrounding Carnival, while the nearby
Museo Emilio Bacardí is devoted to Cuban history.

is a collection of arms used by
nationalist heroes such as Decorated tumbadoras (see p35) in the
Antonio Maceo, Máximo Gómez Museo del Carnaval
and José Martí. There is also a
collection of works by 19th­ del Carnaval was opened here
century Cuban painters, includ­ on 7 June 1983.The six rooms
ing Felipe López González, contain photographs with
Juan Emilio Hernández Giro, some explanatory captions in
José Joaquín Tejada Revilla Spanish, chronologies, banners,
and Buena ventura Martínez. musical instruments, costumes
Twentieth­century artists repre­ and papier mâché masks –
Techos de Santiago de Cuba by Felipe sented here are Wifredo Lam a survey of the Carnival
González, Museo Bacardí and René Portocarrero (see pp30– festivities held in Santiago.
31). The archaeology sec tion Carnival here differs from the
E Museo Emilio includes the only Egyptian traditional Spanish model and
Bacardí Moreau mummy in the country. combines many African and
Calle Pío Rosado (Carniceria), esq. Franco­Haitian elements.
Aguilera. Tel (22) 628 402. Open E Museo del Carnaval Every Monday at 4pm,
1–4:30pm Mon, 9am–4:30pm Tue– Calle Heredia 303, esq. Pío Rosado performers, such as traditional
Sat, 9am–12:30pm Sun. & 8 Note: (Carniceria). Tel (22) 626 955. music ensemble La Peña
fee for photography may apply. Open 9am–5pm Tue–Sat, 9am– Folklórica Raices, play in the
This is the oldest museum in 1pm Sun. & 8 Note: fee for museum’s courtyard.
Cuba. It was founded in 1828 photography may apply.
and is a rich source of This lovely late 18th­century E Museo de la Lucha
relics dating from the building was converted into an Clandestina
Spanish conquest to elementary school in the mid­ Calle Rabí 1, e/ San Carlos y Santa Rita.
the wars of indepen­ 1900s, then into an office Tel (22) 624 689. Open 9am–5pm
dence. The objects building, and eventually Tue–Sun. & 8 Note: fee for
were collected became the offices of the photography may apply.
and organized in Carnival Commission. The Museo The Museum of the Clandestine
the late 1800s and Struggle overlooks a
early 1900s by pleasant square in the
Emilio Bacardí, foun­ district of Tivolí,
der of the famous southwest of Parque
The statue rum distillery. Céspedes. The building
of Liberty in Bacardí was also was the headquarters of
the foyer a famous patriot Batista’s police from 1951
and the first to 1956. On 30 November
mayor of Santiago when Cuba 1956 it was burnt down
became a republic. His aim was by revolutionaries, led by
to display the origin and devel­ Frank País (see p54).
opment of the Cuban nationalist The four rooms in the
movement from a cultural point restored building
of view, and he asked the commemorate the
architect Segrera to design a activities of the Movi­
building for the objects and miento 26 de Julio. The
works of art he had collected. movement was headed
The museum is housed in an in Santiago by Frank País
eclectic building with a broad up to 30 July 1957, when
staircase and an atrium domin­ the young rebel leader
ated by large statues of Minerva was assassinated by
and Liberty. On the ground floor Part of an elaborate float in the Museo del Carnaval Batista’s police.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp262–3 and p275

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