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Two decades dedicated to the memory of Cuba’s national hero

museo Marti Plaza aniersaioThe José Martí Memorial in Havana has not only just celebrated the 163rd anniversary of the birth of Cuba’s national hero, but it is also celebrating its first 20 years of existence, with a range of activities and events planned throughout 2016.

The history of the construction of this monument begins in the 1920s, with the arrival in Havana of French landscape architect and urban planner Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier, who plotted a development plan that conceived of the city as a system of integrated streets converging in a centerpiece.

According to Forestier’s project, the central core would be the site where the José Martí Memorial stands today, known then as the Loma de los Catalanes. The project went no further, however, and the construction never came to fruition.

In 1937, a series of competitions were held to take up the idea again. It wasn’t until 1953 that construction of the monument to the national hero finally began, an endeavor that would last six years.

From 1959 the site acquired renewed political significance with the start of mass rallies in support of the revolutionary process. Two years later the Plaza Cívica (Civic Square) was renamed to become la Plaza de la Revolución (Revolution Square).

For a time it housed the Museum of the Revolution. To mark the centenary of the death of José Martí, in 1995, it was decided the monument would be renovated. Finally, the José Martí Memorial was inaugurated on January 27, 1996, by Fidel Castro.

THE MUSEUM

This is a replica of the ceremonial sword of Simón Bolívar. The original is in Colombia. The piece was a gift from Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez Frías to the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, in 2000. Fidel donated the sword to the museum, given Martí’s admiration of the Liberator. The piece is displayed next to the text Our America, an important document of Marti’s thought. Photo: Anabel Díaz
It should be clarified that the monument to José Martí and the memorial that bears his name are two different things: The first is a construction dating from 1958, and the second includes the museum complex. Let’s focus on the memorial/museum.

In the form of a five-pointed star, the interior of the memorial houses works of great value. One such example is the Venetian ceramic mural by Cuban painter and ceramist Enrique Carabia, which is the largest indoor piece of its kind in Cuba.

Featuring 91 texts, 89 of which are thoughts taken from Martí’s works, forged in 22-carat gold, the mural is of great heritage value. It also features fragments of the last letter Martí wrote to his mother, Leonor Pérez, from Montecristi, Dominican Republic.

Another attraction of the memorial complex is the lookout point at the top of the tower, which is currently undergoing repair. The tower measures 142 meters – the highest point in the city – with a 50km radius visibility on a clear day. From here, the provinces of Artemisa and Mayabeque are visible, as well as an exceptional view of the bay and the oldest part of the city. The upper part of the tower also displays the distances and cardinal points of cities across the world.

AN INSTITUTION HOSTING GENUINE TREASURES

Taking advantage of its star shape, the Memorial offers five exhibition rooms for visitors. Within them are a series of documents and objects that tell the life of the Apostle. These are documents written by Martí himself and the majority are exact replicas of the originals.

Among the authentic pieces on display at the José Martí Memorial is a quetzal coin, a gift from the Guatemalan president to the distinguished Cuban patriot in 1877. There is also a collection of original coins and notes from the time and two of Martí’s university degree certificates.

Also exhibited are various reproductions, such as a lithograph of nineteenth century colonial Havana, a document from the city jails regarding Martí’s imprisonment, and documents appointing José Martí Honorary Consul of Argentina and Paraguay to the United States.

CELEBRATIONS FOR THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY

The José Martí monument is made from marble brought from the Isle of Youth. The statue is hand-carved, consisting of 52 blocks. It stands 18 meters tall and weighs 700 tons. In front of the figure of the Maestro are six columns representing the six provinces of the country, before the political – administrative division of 1976. Photo: Anabel Díaz
Two decades since its founding, the José Martí Memorial has scheduled a series of activities to mark the occasion.

Public Relations specialist Ana María Troya Ávila, noted the launch of the website of the museum complex, which should be completed in the first half of the year.

The digital site will provide information ranging from how to organize a visit to the site, to the history of the institution, the activities and events underway and the collection on display.

As part of the celebrations, the center will publish a new edition of its magazine Algo más que piedra; as well as the pamphlet Para un amigo sincero, which depicts the works of the winners of the annual children’s competition held in the Memorial, for which children draw and write to José Martí. This special edition will include the works of the winners of all competition editions to date.

Also planned is the opening of the collective exhibition Tengo más que el leopardo, in which more than twenty renowned visual artists will honor the institution.
More than two million people have visited the emblematic site of the Cuban capital

Author: Yenia Silva Correa | informacion@granma.cu
february 2, 2016 16:02:19

Since the inauguration of the memorial 20 years ago, it has seen more than two million visitors, approximately 100,000 per year. 70% of these have been Cubans. The institution opens its doors to the public Monday through Saturday from 9:30 to 4:30pm. Photo: Anabel Díaz
The José Martí Memorial in Havana has not only just celebrated the 163rd anniversary of the birth of Cuba’s national hero, but it is also celebrating its first 20 years of existence, with a range of activities and events planned throughout 2016.

The history of the construction of this monument begins in the 1920s, with the arrival in Havana of French landscape architect and urban planner Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier, who plotted a development plan that conceived of the city as a system of integrated streets converging in a centerpiece.

According to Forestier’s project, the central core would be the site where the José Martí Memorial stands today, known then as the Loma de los Catalanes. The project went no further, however, and the construction never came to fruition.

In 1937, a series of competitions were held to take up the idea again. It wasn’t until 1953 that construction of the monument to the national hero finally began, an endeavor that would last six years.

From 1959 the site acquired renewed political significance with the start of mass rallies in support of the revolutionary process. Two years later the Plaza Cívica (Civic Square) was renamed to become la Plaza de la Revolución (Revolution Square).

For a time it housed the Museum of the Revolution. To mark the centenary of the death of José Martí, in 1995, it was decided the monument would be renovated. Finally, the José Martí Memorial was inaugurated on January 27, 1996, by Fidel Castro.

THE MUSEUM

This is a replica of the ceremonial sword of Simón Bolívar. The original is in Colombia. The piece was a gift from Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez Frías to the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, in 2000. Fidel donated the sword to the museum, given Martí’s admiration of the Liberator. The piece is displayed next to the text Our America, an important document of Marti’s thought. Photo: Anabel Díaz
It should be clarified that the monument to José Martí and the memorial that bears his name are two different things: The first is a construction dating from 1958, and the second includes the museum complex. Let’s focus on the memorial/museum.

In the form of a five-pointed star, the interior of the memorial houses works of great value. One such example is the Venetian ceramic mural by Cuban painter and ceramist Enrique Carabia, which is the largest indoor piece of its kind in Cuba.

Featuring 91 texts, 89 of which are thoughts taken from Martí’s works, forged in 22-carat gold, the mural is of great heritage value. It also features fragments of the last letter Martí wrote to his mother, Leonor Pérez, from Montecristi, Dominican Republic.

Another attraction of the memorial complex is the lookout point at the top of the tower, which is currently undergoing repair. The tower measures 142 meters – the highest point in the city – with a 50km radius visibility on a clear day. From here, the provinces of Artemisa and Mayabeque are visible, as well as an exceptional view of the bay and the oldest part of the city. The upper part of the tower also displays the distances and cardinal points of cities across the world.

AN INSTITUTION HOSTING GENUINE TREASURES

Taking advantage of its star shape, the Memorial offers five exhibition rooms for visitors. Within them are a series of documents and objects that tell the life of the Apostle. These are documents written by Martí himself and the majority are exact replicas of the originals.

Among the authentic pieces on display at the José Martí Memorial is a quetzal coin, a gift from the Guatemalan president to the distinguished Cuban patriot in 1877. There is also a collection of original coins and notes from the time and two of Martí’s university degree certificates.

Also exhibited are various reproductions, such as a lithograph of nineteenth century colonial Havana, a document from the city jails regarding Martí’s imprisonment, and documents appointing José Martí Honorary Consul of Argentina and Paraguay to the United States.

CELEBRATIONS FOR THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY

The José Martí monument is made from marble brought from the Isle of Youth. The statue is hand-carved, consisting of 52 blocks. It stands 18 meters tall and weighs 700 tons. In front of the figure of the Maestro are six columns representing the six provinces of the country, before the political – administrative division of 1976. Photo: Anabel Díaz
Two decades since its founding, the José Martí Memorial has scheduled a series of activities to mark the occasion.

Public Relations specialist Ana María Troya Ávila, noted the launch of the website of the museum complex, which should be completed in the first half of the year.

The digital site will provide information ranging from how to organize a visit to the site, to the history of the institution, the activities and events underway and the collection on display.

As part of the celebrations, the center will publish a new edition of its magazine Algo más que piedra; as well as the pamphlet Para un amigo sincero, which depicts the works of the winners of the annual children’s competition held in the Memorial, for which children draw and write to José Martí. This special edition will include the works of the winners of all competition editions to date.

Also planned is the opening of the collective exhibition Tengo más que el leopardo, in which more than twenty renowned visual artists will honor the institution.

(Granma)

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