Havana info - Havana sights - Havana Museums
Parque Histórico Militar Morro-Cabaña
It constitutes a historical and military park, formed by the fortresses of
El Morro and La Cabaña. Together they make the largest museum in the
country. It displays two thematic halls. The first provides the visitor with
information on the history of shipping in the Havana Harbor, while the other
treasures the most important collection of antique weapons in Cuba.
Address: Carretera de La Cabaña, Eastern Havana
Museum of Decorative Arts
With an excellent taste, the Museum of Decorative Arts exhibits in its
spacious rooms valuable works of European and Oriental art dating back to
the 18 th to 20 th centuries. Among its collections, you will find very
carefully preserved furniture, ceramics, porcelains, paintings, and
sculptures as well as works of applied arts.
Address: Calle 17 # 502, esquina a E, Vedado
National Museum “Castillo de la Real Fuerza”
This museum is housed by the oldest military fortress in the Americas, which
construction dates back to 1577. This fortress used to be the residence of
the Spanish colonial governors. The so-called “homage tower” serves as
pedestal for the worldwide known statue of La Giraldilla, symbol of the
Cuban capital. The museum exhibits works of renowned Cuban artists such as
Amelia Peláez, Wilfredo Lam, and René Portocarrero, among others.
Address: Calle O’Reilly and Avenida del Puerto, Old Havana
Museum of the City
The museum of the city has permanent exhibition halls with collections of
arts and history of the colonial times and of the beginnings of the 20th
century. It is located in the ancient Captain General’s Palace, seat of the
Spanish governments in the island from 1781 to 1899 and of the presidency of
the republic from 1902 to 1920.
Address: Calle Tacón # 1 between Obispo and O’Reilly, Old Havana
National Fine Art Museum
The National Fine Arts Museum was created in 1913 and in 1955 it was moved
to the building that currently houses the collection of Cuban art. It has
been recently restored and extended. The collections of universal arts are
now housed in the former Asturian Center. The exhibition areas treasure
collections of Cuban and European painting, which harmonize with works of
art of ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome. This is one of the most frequented
museums of the city.
Address: Trocadero between Zulueta and Monserrate, Old Havana
National Museum of Natural History
It is located in the National Capitol and constitutes the most important
entity of its kind in Cuba. Among its well-preserved collections are those
of flora and fauna, anthropology, archeology, entomology, mineralogy, and an
excellent collection of natural history.
Address: Paseo del Prado between Dragones and San José, Old Havana
National Museum of Music
The National Museum of Music exhibits collections that provide the visitor
with a great deal of information about the transformations of music and
musical instruments in the country from the 16 th century. The visitor will
be able to appreciate unsuspected works of art and musical scores.
Address: Capdevilla # 1 between Habana and Aguiar, Old Havana
Museum of Colonial Art
It exhibits furniture, stained glass, and porcelain collections as well as
many other carefully preserved objects. The house where it is located was
built in 1720 and belonged to Don Luis Chacón, a citizen of Havana that came
to be the Military Governor of Cuba three times.
Address: San Ignacio # 61, Cathedral Square, Old Havana
Historical Museum of Sciences “Carlos J. Finlay”
Its building has been declared National Monument. From 1868, it housed the
Real Academia de las Ciencias Médicas, Físicas y Naturales de La Habana and
from 1874, it has housed the oldest museum in Cuba. The visit provides a
panorama of sciences in Cuba and internationally. Its library treasures
about 100 000 volumes. The museum also houses a reproduction of a pharmacy
of the 19 th century.
Address: Calle Cuba # 460 between Amargura and Brasil, Old Havana
Museum of Perfumes
Perfume and soap collections of the last two centuries are found in this
former episcopal palace. Some of its collections travel back in time, with
findings of archeological excavations, and some others come right to our
days, represented by the brand Suchel, insignia of domestically produced
perfumes and cosmetics.
Address: Calle Oficios between Obispo and Obrapía, Old Havana
Casa de los Árabes y Aula de Cultura Árabe Islámica
It houses permanent expositions about the rich Arab Islamic culture.
Outstanding elements are: the replica of an Arab market (Zoco) and an
original prayer room devoted to the practice of Muslim faith in the city.
The building has an exuberant colonial backyard ornamented with beautiful
plants and flowers.
Address: Oficios # 16 between Obispo and Obrapía
Postal Museum of Cuba
Ancient writing means and valuable documents about post in Cuba await the
visitor at the Postal Museum. It also treasures a vast and valuable
universal philatelic collection and a room completely devoted to Cuban
postage stamps.
Address: Avenida de Rancho Boyeros and 19 de Mayo, Seat of the Ministry of
Informatics and Communications, Revolution Square
“Ernest Hemingway” Museum
It is located in the house of the ranch where the American writer lived for
many years. The house has been preserved as it was when Hemingway was living
there; everything is kept just as he had it. Personal objects, tens of
thousands of books and photographs, as well as some “trophies” won in his
frequent hunting adventures are some of the attractions.
Address: Finca La Vigía, San Francisco de Paula, Havana.
Birth Home of José Martí
It was the humble birth home of Cuba’s National Hero, who also was one of
the most outstanding figures of Latin-American literature of the 19 th
century. It exhibits personal objects of the “Apostle”, whose spirit is felt
in every corner of the restored house. There, you will enhance your
knowledge about the life of José Martí and Cuban history in general.
Address: Calle Paula # 314, Old Havana
Numismatic Museum
Located in the ancient Monte de Piedad (pawnshop), it exhibits the largest
collection of Cuban coins in well divided sections representing the colony,
the republic in arms, the American intervention, and later stages up to
1959, date of the triumph of the revolution. There, the visitor can also
appreciate decorations, medals, and a complete history of numismatics.
Address: Calle Oficios # 8 between Obispo and Obrapía, Old Havana
Museum of the Revolution and Granma Memorial
Its rooms and open areas provide a vast and detailed panorama of the
struggles of the Cuban people to achieve its complete sovereignty. The
visitor will be able to admire the tank used by Fidel Castro during the Bay
of Pigs invasion, supported by the United States in 1961, as well as the
memorial which main attraction is the “Granma’” yacht
Address: Refugio # 1 between Monserrate and Zulueta, Old Havana
Latin-American Gallery “Haydee Santamaría”
It is sponsored by the renowned Casa de las Américas and is also supported
by friendly donations coming from the Latin-American sub-region of the
continent. Thousands of paintings, sculptures, photographs, and other
objects become attractions complemented with film projections and cultural
concerts.
Address: Calle G (Avenida de los Presidentes) between 3 rd y 5th, Vedado
Napoleonic Museum
It treasures a permanent exhibition comprising several collections of
artwork, arms, furniture, fabrics, and other objects of the Napoleonic
Period together with personal objects of Napoleon I himself. It is
considered one of the most important of its genre in the globe.
Address: San Miguel and Ronda, Central Havana
Centro “Wilfredo Lam”
Original works of the famous Cuban creator and of other renowned artists of
developing countries stand out. This institution does research and promotes
the visual arts of different regions of the world and particularly promotes
the work of Wilfredo Lam, one of the most relevant exponents of Cuban
culture.
Address: Calle Oficios and Acosta, Old Havana
House of Africa
It possesses permanent halls about the culture of the sub-Saharan African
people cultures. It exhibits genuine elements of the wide variety of
Afro-Cuban religions. It is sustained with the collection of late Cuban
researcher Fernando Ortiz and with presents made to the Cuban president
Fidel Castro in his visits to several African countries.
Address: Obrapía # 157 between Mercaderes and San Ignacio, Old Havana
Museo Municipal de Regla
It treasures all the history of the formation and development of the
ultramarine town of Regla. It has been reasonably said that in the religious
syncretistic cults the believers show veneration towards Yemayá, the
Patroness of the Bay of Havana.
Address: Martí # 158 between Facciolo and La Piedra, Regla
Historical Museum of Guanabacoa
It houses one of the most complete ethnographic collections related to the
Afro-Cuban religious cults. In its rooms, are exhibited objects belonging to
the three basic cults: the Regla de Ochá, Regla de Palo or Palo-Monte, and
the Secret Abakuá Society. In addition, it exhibits excellent furniture,
glassware, and ceramics of the 19 th century.
Address: Martí # 108 esquina a Lamas, Guanabacoa
Museum of Natural History
It was founded in the 19th century by the prominent scientist Felipe Poey
and the museum displays unique fish dissected by Poey himself. It houses
three permanent collections: Inside the Museum; Mammals, Birds, and Reptiles
from Other Parts of the World; and History of Earth and Life.
Address: Obispo # 61 Arms Square, Old Havana
José Martí Memorial
It is located in the base of the monument erected to honor the Cuban
National Hero in the Revolution Square of Havana. The “Apostle” is honored
by means of permanent and transitory expositions that recall his prolific
life. Moreover, it becomes an ideal place for other kind of events. It is a
place we recommend to be marked as a must in your visit’s list.
Address: José Martí Revolution Square