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Museo de Arqueología Guamuhaya
On the northwestern side of Plaza Mayor is this odd mix of stuffed animals, native bones and vaguely incongruous 19th-century kitchen furniture. Given a radical rethink for the 2014 anniversary, its now in far better shape.
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Galleria de Lester Campa
Several well-known Cuban artists are based at Las Terrazas, including Lester Campa, whose work has been exhibited internationally. Pop into his lakeside studio-gallery, on the right-hand side a few houses after Peña de Polo Montañez.
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Museo de Historia Natural Felipe Poey
The Museo de Historia Natural Felipe Poey, the oldest museum in Cuba, was founded in 1874 by the Royal Academy of Medical, Physical and Natural Sciences. Many of the stuffed specimens of Cuban flora and fauna date from the 19th century.
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Jardín Botánico
One kilometer before Villa la Gran Piedra and 800m down a muddy road is a botanical garden with orchids (best November to January) and other flowers. Look for the showy yellow, orange and violet blooms of the ave de paraíso (bird of paradise).
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El Caballero de París
A statue outside Plaza San Francisco de Asís famous church depicts El Caballero de París, a well-known street person who roamed Havana during the 1950s, engaging passers-by with his philosophies on life, religion, politics and current events.
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Flagpole Monument
No, not just any old flagpole. Follow Av Céspedes past Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción to its northern end and you will see this flagpole is attached to a monument and commemorates the first raising of the Cuban flag on May 19, 1850.
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Fiesta Guajira
Situated in the El Oasis artists community, opposite the turn-off to the old Club Bucanero, this Ecotur-run finca (farm) formerly ran rodeos with vaqueros (Cuban cowboys) but post-hurricane is focused round a rustic restaurant, and a cockpit.
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Cárcel
Preserved in Parque de los Enamorados (Lovers Park), surrounded by streams of speeding traffic, lies a surviving section of the colonial Cárcel or Tacón Prison, built in 1838, where many Cuban patriots including José Martí were imprisoned.
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Centro Gallego
It might look unmistakably neobaroque, but the ornate Centro Gallego was erected as a Galician social club between 1907 and 1914. The Centro was built around the existing Teatro Tacón, which opened in 1838 with five masked Carnaval dances.
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Museo de Navegación
Opened in 2008 this museum displays interesting exposés on the history of the Castillo de la Real Fuerza and Old Town, and its connections with the erstwhile Spanish Empire. Look out for the huge scale model of the Santíssima Trinidad galleon.
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Ventana de Luz Vázquez
A forerunner of the national anthem, co-written by Céspedes (and, confusingly, also called La Bayamesa) was first sung from here on March 27, 1851. A memorial plaque has been emblazoned onto the wall next to the wood-barred colonial window.
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Paseo Bayamés
Bayamos main shopping street (officially known as Calle General García) was pedestrianized in the 1990s and reconfigured with funky artwork. Here youll find wax museum Museo de Cera , various public utilities and plenty of Cuban-style commerce.
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Cayo Paredón Grande
East of Cayo Coco, a road crosses Cayo Romano and turns north to Cayo Paredón Grande and Faro Diego Velázquez , a 52m lighthouse dating from 1859. This area has a couple of beaches, including much-lauded Playa los Pinos, and is good for fishing.
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Hacienda Unión
About 3.5km west of the Hotel Moka access road, the Hacienda Unión is another partially reconstructed coffee-estate ruin that features a country-style restaurant, a small flower garden known as the Jardín Unión and horseback riding (CUC$6 per hour).
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Maritime Museum
Aside from the fantastic views over the sea and the city, El Morro also hosts a maritime museum that includes a riveting account of the forts siege and eventual surrender to the British in 1762 using words (in English and Spanish) and paintings.
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Rancho Querete
The nexus for the Jobo Rosado Reserve is just off the main road a few kilometers east of Yaguajay and is equipped with a bar/restaurant, natural swimming hole, biological station and small zoo (roosters mainly). Guided hikes can be organized here.
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Museo de Danza
A dance museum in Cuba – well, theres no surprise there. This well laid out exhibition space in an eclectic Vedado mansion collects objects from Cubas rich dance history, with many artifacts drawn from the collection of ex-ballerina, Alicia Alonso.
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Cañonazo Ceremony
The nightly 9pm cañonazo ceremony is a popular evening excursion in which actors dressed in full 18th-century military regalia reenact the firing of a cannon over the harbor. You can visit the ceremony independently or as part of an organized excursion.
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Teatro Principal
One block south of Parque Martí, the grand Teatro Principal more than compensates for the parks lack of illustrious edifices. Built in 1927 with help from local financier Angela Jiménez, it purportedly has the islands best (theatrical) acoustics.
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Museo Eduardo García Feria y José García Castañeda
The small Museo Eduardo García Feria y José García Castañeda documents the life and work of two local archaeologists and naturalists. Eduardo was responsible for creating Holguín’s first museum and he once boasted the largest snail collection in Cuba.
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