Museum of the Revolution
The museum works in former Cuban Presidential Palace. This building was the house of government since the government of Mario Garcia until the government of Fulgencio Batista who was deposed by the Cuban revolution spearheaded by Fidel Castro in 1959.
The building which was designed by the architects Carlos Marui (Cuban) and Paul Belau (Belgian). It was inaugurated in 1920 and has a neoclassical style which combine French, German and Spanish architectural elements. The luxury decoration of the building was in hands of the famous house Tiffany of New York and is a sample of the excessive luxury of the Cuban governments before the revolution.
The collections and halls of the museum are whole dedicated to the Cuban revolution history including some portion dedicated to pre-revolutionary and the war of Independence against Spain in XIX century. Behind the building is the Granma Memorial, a monument in honor to the yacht that transported the revolution fighters including Castro in 1956 from Mexico to Cuba. Besides, there are also many tanks an others vehicles which were used during the revolution. The museum saves also a great collection of photos amongst them several of the famous “Che Guevara”.
The beautiful building is located amongst “Monserrate” and “Zulueta” avenues in the old Havana. It opens daily.
Fine Arts Museum
Here it is possible to find a complete collection of art with Cuban pieces from the colonial period to the actuality. The architect Emilio Heredia was who founded this museum in 1913. Since 1954 the museum works in the former building that was occupied by the Colon market (also known as "Polvorin"). The building was designed by the architect Alfonso Rodriguez Pichardo and has been recently restored by the architect Jose Linares.
Nevertheless now the collection of the museum occupies two buildings the Palace of Fine Arts that already mentioned and the palace of the Centro Asturiano which is dedicated to the universal art whose building was constructed in 1927 by Manuel Bustos. Here it is possible to see a great collection of paintings and sculptures which comes mainly of Europe.
Both buildings are located in the old Havana amongst “Zulueta”, “Trocadero” and “Monserrate” avenues. They open from Tuesday to Sunday.
National Music Museum
The museum is situated at Nº1 “Capdevila” street in a former house of Italian Renaissance style; which belonged to important men of La Havana like Francisco Pons a rich merchant who ordered to built the house, later the building belonged to the powerful family Perez de la Riva during the first third of the XX century. In 1936 the Secretary of State bought the house and finally in 1981, it is restored and now is the Music Museum’s headquarters.
The museum saves a collection of former music instruments, music machines and original scores of historical songs of Cuba like national anthem. All they created between XVI and XX centuries.
Museum of Colonial Art
The museum works in an ancient colonial house which belonged to the count of Bayona and was constructed in 1720. This place that is situated in front to the “Virgen Maria de la Concepcion Inmaculada” church is a good sample of colonial architecture in Cuba. The house was used by Luis Chacon in XVIII century. Later here works the Actuaries College and “La Discusion” newspaper between the end of XVIII century and beginning of XIX.
Since 1969 the Colonial Arts Museum works in this historical house. The Museum’s collection has many pieces of furniture, glassware, porcelain, glass windows and others objects which are representatives of the colonial period between XVII and XIX centuries. The pieces were obtained of former colonial mansions of the city.
It is at 61 “San Ignacio” streets in the Cathedral Plaza and opens every day.
Jose Marti Memorial Museum
The museum is into the monument in honor to the famous Cuban writer and national hero Jose Marti. This monument was opened the 143rd anniversary of the birth of the writer. The monument is a higher obelisk made of concrete within which works the museum. The collection is composed by original documents and relics that belonged to the poet as well as engravings which tells us the life of the hero. It is situated amongst “Paseo” street and “Independencia” avenue, it is the highest building in the city and opens from Monday to Saturday.
Historical Museum of Sciences “Carlos J. Finlay”
The museum works in the Academy of Natural, Physical and Medical Sciences which was inaugurated in 1861. Very important discoveries have been made here such as the identification of the vector that generates the yellow fever in 1881.
The object of the museum is to show the history of the Cuban Science. Walking for its halls the visitor can see the evolution of the science in the country (mainly the medical science); the exhibits include the Cuban Royal Academy of Sciences history and an overview about the participation of Cuban doctors in the independence war. The museum also has a complete library with 95000 copies and a historical archive in where it can find scientist historical documents. It is located at 460 Amargura street and opens from Monday to Saturday
National Museum of Decorative Arts
In this museum you can find a complete collection of foreign art including pieces of Europe and Asia like furniture, paints, sculptures, ceramics, Chinese wares and porcelain amongst others. The museum is located at 502 “17” street in the “Plaza de la Revolutiòn” and opens from Tuesday to Saturday.
Artistic Ceramic Museum
This museum saves collections of new Cuban artists like Wilfredo Lam and Rene Portocarrero amongst others. The scope of the institution is to protect and promote the ceramic art in Cuba. It is situated at 2 “O’Relly” Street in Old Havana.
Museum of Religious Art
Here it is possible to find ceramics, furniture and missals as well as objects made in silver and gold , all them belonged to the colonial churches of Cuba and were created during XVIII and XIX centuries. The museum is amongst “Amargura” and “Churruca” streets.
Museum of cigar
It is dedicated to tobacco culture which is very important for the Cuban history and economy. The museum owns an interesting collection of tools of the cigar industry and famous cigar brands. Obviously in the museum you can find a complete store in where it possible to buy good Cuban cigars.
Others important museums are:
- Napoleon Museum
- Simon Bolivar House
- House of Silver Work
- House of Jose Marti
- Museum of Archaeology
- “Felipe Poey” Natural History Museum
- National Museum of natural History
- Numismatic Museum
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