City Museum, Old Havana

Get lost in the Museo de La Ciudad (City Museum) and experience Cuban history in this museum in Old Havana

City Museum, Old Havana
© The Web Ninja

The Museo de la Ciudad (City Museum) in Old Havana is located in what used to be the Palacio de los Capitales Generales (Governor's Palace). The palace, which began construction in 1776, served as the headquarters for the Governor and as housing for 65 Spanish captains who governed Cuba.

Museo de la ciudad, Estatua de Cristobal Colón

City Museum
© Luis Alveart

In 1968 the palace was repurposed, like many of the architectural works in Old Havana. It became one of the first museums sponsored by the Oficina del Historiador de La Habana (City Historian’s Office), the cuban institution in charge of preserving Havanan heritage.

They transformed the rooms and hallways of the palace into 40 exhibition rooms. And, together, they tell the story of Cuban independence and the history of the country’s revolution. Some of the exhibitions featured rooms include:

1. La Parroquia (The Church Room). This room commemorates the former Iglesia Parroquial Mayor (Great Church) destroyed by the Invincible ship explosion. Inside the exhibition you can find archeological remains and jewels rescued from the former church as well as that from other early established churches in Cuba.

2. Giraldilla (The Sunflower Room). This room immortalizes the first sculpture cast in bronze in Havana. The artist, Gerónimo Martín Pinzón, drew inspiration for the sculpture from a tragic story about a married woman who died for love.

3. La Heráldica (The Heraldry Room). Here, you can see the symbols representative of Cuban nobility: banners, military orders, noble titles among others.

4. La de los Cobres Cubanos (The Cuban Copper Room). This room demonstrates the important role silversmithing played in Old Havana.

5. La Pinacoteca (The Picture Gallery Room). A room where you can find the works of 19th century Cuban artists.

More Information:

Location:

Calle Tacón (entre obispo y O'Reilly), Plaza de Armas, La Habana Vieja, Cuba.

Opening Times:

From 9:30 am to 6:00 pm.

Ticket Price:

3 CUC, free for children under the age of 12. 5 CUC for a guided tour.

Interactive map:

Havana:

Old Havana

Parque Histórico Militar Morro Cabaña

Centro Habana

Vedado

Miramar

What to see around Havana

Other nearby destinations:

Why "Cuban Travel Agency"?

"Cuban Travel Agency" is part of the Visitar Cuba project, an organization of Cuban agencies whose objectives are:

✓ Disseminate Cuba, its culture and its heritage.
✓ Promote sustainable tourism.
✓ Support the local economy, prioritizing direct contact with Cuban agencies.
✓ Offer budgets without commitment and without cost, from the hand of Cuban experts.

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