Old Havana’s Museums Walking Tour

Description

City Museum (former Palace of the Capitan Generals), House of the Arabs, José Martí’s Birthplace, Colonial Art Museum, St. Francis of Assisi’s Convent, Goldsmith’s Museum, Archeology Museum, Revolution Museum, Capitol Building, Rum Museum, Museum of Tobacco, Museum of Fine Arts.

Old Havana Museum Tour Main Attractions

City Museum (Palacio de los Capitanes Generales)

The museum has several rooms for permanent exhibits dedicated to the history of the Cuban nation. Its atmosphere is a reminder of colonial times. Since its inauguration in 1791 the palace has housed the heads of three different types of governments – the Spanish governor, the US military governor, and the President of Cuba up to 1920.

House of the Arabs

It promotes the values of the Arab World through its customs, traditions, art, architecture and the study of Arab presence in Cuba. Its library has an important collection on Arab and Islamic subjects and contemporary Arab and Islamic art.

Jose Marti’s birthplace

Founded on January 28, 1925 at the house where Cuba’s National Hero was born, it is Havana’s oldest museum. There are exhibits from Marti’s childhood, adolescence and youth (1853 – 1870) as well as rooms with references to several events linked to his life.

Colonial Art Museum

Housed in a typical example of 18th century domestic architecture, it exhibits decorative arts of a transcendent era in the formation of the Cuban identity. There are varied collections that range from furniture to domestic glass works, porcelain, textiles, paintings, transportation and silversmithing that reflect the taste and customs of bygone times.

Goldsmith’s Museum

The museum keeps a valuable collection of artistic and every day-use pieces that are examples of the skills attained by Cubans, in spite of the fact that the island lacked important deposits of precious metals. Among the exhibits: jewels, watches, ashtrays, inkstands, coins and pieces of toiletries and of worship, among others.

Capitol Building (Capitolio)

Built in 1929 as the new presidential and governmental palace, this magnificent building copies the design of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. The building marks the 0 kilometer of Cuba’s highway system!

Rum Museum

Near San Fransisco Square, the Museum of Rum is housed in an old 18th century mansion where visitors can see the distilling process of the famous Havana Club Rum (fermentation, filtering, aging and blending) including the growing of the sugar cane.

National Museum of Fine Arts

It has two buildings dedicated to exhibits. The Palace of Fine Arts was transformed into the venue of the Cuban art collections, while the former Asturian Center houses the exhibits of a universal character.

Museum of Tobacco

This museum is dedicated in preserving and exhibiting collections of the culture generated by tobacco. Among its exhibits: instruments for processing the leaf, pipes, lighters and other fittings of the art of smoking. It also boasts of a vast collection of lithographic stones and cigar seals.