MUSEO DE LA CIUDAD DE LA HABANA

The Museo de la Ciudad de la Habana (Museum of the City of Havana) is located within the walls of the former Palacio de los Capitanes Generales (Palace of the Captains General), seat of the Spanish government until 1899. Work carried out in 1930 completed the gallery that surrounds the central patio, typical of colonial buildings. In the center of the patio, a statue of white Carrara marble represents Christopher Columbus. In the gallery on the right is the oldest monument in Cuba. Embedded in the wall, a tombstone carved with a cross and an angel's head marks the place where, in 1557, Doña María de Cepero died from an arquebus bullet while attending mass. The covered part of the first floor used to house the carriages. The mezzanine floor was used for offices and workshops for rent, while the apartments were located on the upper floor, where you can see important collections of historical documents, objects used in the 18th and 19th centuries, furniture, sculptures, porcelain, etc. You will notice the portraits of the Marquis of La Torre, executed by the French painter Vermay. You will also linger over the paintings by Francisco Sans y Cabot and Gustave Wappers (1803-1874), illustrating the arrival of Cortes in Mexico and the landing of the Puritans in Plymouth. A visit from which you can get the most out of the guided version (no guided tour on Sunday).