Page 79 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

LA HABANA VIE JA  77

The upper gallery of the Casa de la Obra Pía, with its frescoed walls and polished wood balustrade
0 Casa de la can appreciate its bygone opu- q Casa de Africa
Obra Pía lence in the upper rooms, which Calle Obrapía 157, e/ San Ignacio y
have been decorated with colonial
Calle Obrapía 158, esq. Mercaderes. furnishings and decorative ware. Mercaderes. Map 4 E2. Tel 7861 5798.
Map 4 E2. Tel 7861 3097. The mansion also houses a Open 9:30am–5pm Tue–Sat,
Open 9:15am–4:45pm Tue–Sat, small museum of sewing 9am–1pm Sun. Closed 1 Jan, 26 Jul,
9am–12:30pm Sun. Closed 1 Jan, 26 10 Oct, 25 Dec. 8 ^
Jul, 10 Oct, 25 Dec. machines, a reconstruction
of Alejo Carpentier’s study Opposite the Casa de la Obra
Calle Obrapía (literally Charity and an art gallery. Pía is a 17th-century building
Street) was named after this At the corner of Calle Obrapía that was rebuilt in 1887 to
mansion, whose own name and Calle Mercaderes is the Casa accommodate a family of
commemorates the pious de México, a cultural centre that plantation owners on the
actions of Martín shows the close links upper floor, and a tobacco
Calvo de la Puerta between Mexico and factory, worked by slaves, on
y Arrieta, a wealthy Cuba. It has a library the ground floor. It is appro-
Spanish nobleman with more than 5,000 priate that the building is now
who took up books and a museum a museum containing more
residence here in Majolica tile street sign for displaying handmade than 2,000 objects linked to
the mid-17th century. Calle de la Obrapía glass, silver, fabric, the history of sub-Saharan
Every year he gave a terracotta and Africa and the various ethnic
generous dowry to five orphan wooden objects. Lastly, on the groups that were taken to
girls for them to use to get other side of the street is the Cuba on slave ships. Many of
married or enter a convent. Casa de Guayasamín, named these items belonged to the
A century later the residence after the Ecuadorean painter ethnographer Fernando Ortíz,
became the home of Don whose works are on display. a specialist in the African roots
Agustín de Cárdenas, who was of Cuban culture.
given the title of marquis for Together with the
taking Spain’s side in 1762 during section on religion,
the British occupation of Havana which includes
(see p45). In 1793 new decora tion, objects from Afro-
and the elaborate arch leading Cuban religions (see
to the loggia on the first floor, pp26–7), there are
were added to the building. instruments of
La Casa de la Obra Pía is torture used on the
regarded as one of the jewels of slaves, batá drums,
Cuban Baroque archi tecture, and and paintings of
its luxurious salons were used for plantation life. The
young noblewomen to make museum also has a
their debut in society. Visitors Palo Monte objects (see p27), Casa de Africa well-stocked library.

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