José Martí Memorial.

At the centre of Plaza de la Revolución, the José Martí Memorial honours Cuba’s poet and national hero. Its 109-metre marble tower rises above the square, with a large statue of Martí at its base. Inside, a museum holds documents, engravings and other items connected to his life and work. Take the elevator or stairs to the observatory for views across Havana, then look around the plaza for the metal Che Guevara mural on the Ministry of the Interior.

The memorial and its setting

The memorial stands in the middle of Plaza de la Revolución, a large square associated with speeches by Fidel Castro and other Cuban leaders. The plaza and memorial predate the communist revolution. Government buildings line the square, including the Ministry of the Interior, whose façade bears a metal mural of Che Guevara.

A 109-metre tower of grey Cuban marble rises above the plaza. At its base is a large white marble statue of José Martí, shown seated. The memorial is dedicated to Martí, a poet and a national hero whose work and political life are closely tied to Cuba’s independence movement.

Museum and observatory

The museum inside the memorial contains material about Martí’s life and work, including documents, engravings, drawings, maps and memorabilia. First editions of his works are also held there.

The observatory at the top of the tower gives views across Havana. You can reach it by elevator or stairs. Morning and evening are more comfortable times to explore the site in the heat.