Villa Clara Provincial Museum


The Villa Clara Provincial Museum, also known as Abel Santamaría Provincial Museum, is a museum located in the Cuban city of Santa Clara, capital of Villa Clara Province.

History

Originally, in the 19th century, the structure was a Spanish barrack called "María Cristina". At the end of the Cuban War of Independence, in 1898, it was abandoned until 1903, when the barracks became the seat of the rural guard and the headquarters of Las Villas Province, led by General José de Jesús Monteagudo, who in 1902 replaced the Major General Alejandro Rodríguez Velasco. It constituted, by its defensive capacity, the third military barracks of Cuba during the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. During the Battle of Santa Clara, in 1958, it was taken by the rebel troops led by Ernesto Guevara. In 1970 the structure was opened as provincial museum and, in 1981, renewed and expanded.

Structure

Part of the "Cultural Complex Abel Santamaría", it occupies its main building and is located over a hillock, in Dobarganes quarter. The museum counts a collection of art, social and natural history related to its province.
The museum halls include: