The memorial is currently located at the traffic circle of 5th Avenue and 120th and 146th Streets in the Municipality of Playa, Havana, although this was not its original location. From 1959 when it was inaugurated until 2017 when it was dismantled it was located on G Street and Malecon, in the Vedado district. In 2017, the category 5 hurricane Irma, affected the island of Cuba and caused serious damage in Havana, especially in the area of the Malecon, where the monument was situated, causing damage to the pavement of the complex. For this reason and because the proximity to the sea contributed to its deterioration, it was decided to move it to a place where it could be better preserved. In 2019, in salute to the 500th Anniversary of Havana, it was inaugurated in its new placement.
The Statue of Calixto García is made of bronze and was designed by architect Elbert Peets. It shows the great Cuban patriot dressed in his general's clothes on his horse, holding the reins with his left hand while with his right hand he seems to guide the Cubans towards combat. His horse has one of its front legs raised, although curiously he did not die of wounds caused in battle, but as a result of pneumonia after the end of the war. At the time of his death he was on a mission advocating for the recognition of Cuban independence fighters. For this reason it is considered that he died fighting for his country. In the black granite pedestal where he rests is embedded the coat of arms of the Republic of Cuba next to the year of his birth and physical disappearance.
The statue caught my attention because of its large size, but I think that is precisely the way to immortalize the image of this great man, who preferred to shoot himself rather than fall into enemy hands. A story that highlights the courage of Calixto Garcia's personality was that being surrounded by the Spanish army and with no way to escape, he shot himself under the chin with his revolver, fortunately the shot did not kill him, but it left him serious sequels forever, and a scar on his forehead where the projectile came out, for which our national hero José Martí would call him, "The man with the star on his forehead".
The entire memorial is surrounded by an imposing black granite wall. I really liked the detail of the interior of its walls, adorned with a set of images in relief that narrate the most significant passages of the life of Calixto García and therefore of Cuban history. The floor under the monument is made of a beautiful white polished granite material, and just below the statue there is a star-shaped drawing in black, which creates a beautiful contrast in its design.
Its exterior is surrounded by a beautiful garden with red flowers. The most significant are the two cannons that guard each end of the monument. For me these cannons symbolize the strength and courage of this patriot who dedicated his life to the struggle for freedom.
As a lover of the history of my country I feel great pride for all the admirable men who fought for it, for this reason I can only feel great respect and gratitude to all the heroes who for many years battled for the freedom of this land. The memorial to Calixto Garcia is a worthy reminder of the memory and greatness of one of these brave heroes.
I hope you have enjoyed this reading and for my part it is always a pleasure to be able to show a little bit about the Architecture and history of my country.
See you next time! 🖐
-All photos are my property, taken from my Huawei P Smart cell phone. 📱
El memorial se encuentra actualmente en la rotonda de 5ta. Avenida y las calles 120 y 146 del Municipio Playa, en La Habana, aunque esta no fue su ubicación original. Desde el año 1959 que se inauguró hasta el año 2017 en que se desmontó estuvo situado en la calle G y Malecón, en la localidad del Vedado. En el 2017, el huracán Irma de categoría 5, afecto la isla de Cuba y causó graves daños en la Habana, en especial en la zona del Malecón, donde se encontraba el monumento, provocando daños en el pavimento del complejo. Por esta razón y porque la proximidad al mar contribuía a su deterioro, se decidió trasladarlo a un lugar donde pudiera ser mejor conservado. En el año 2019, en saludo al 500 Aniversario de la Habana, se inauguró en su nuevo emplazamiento.
La Estatua de Calixto García está hecha en bronce y fue diseñada por el arquitecto Elbert Peets. En ella se aprecia al gran patriota cubano vestido con sus ropas de general sobre su caballo, del que sostiene las riendas con su mano izquierda mientras con la derecha parece guiar a los cubanos hacia el combate. Su caballo, tiene una de sus patas delanteras levantadas, aunque curiosamente no murió de heridas provocadas en la batalla, sino producto de una neumonía después de haber concluido la guerra. En el momento de su deceso se encontraba en una misión abogando por el reconocimiento de los independentistas cubanos. Por ello se considera que murió combatiendo por su pais. En el pedestal de granito negro donde descansa está incrustado el escudo de la República de Cuba junto al año de su nacimiento y desaparición física.
La Estatua llamó mi atención por su gran tamaño, pero creo que esa es precisamente la manera de inmortalizar la imagen de este gran hombre, que prefirió dispararse antes que caer en manos enemigas. Una historia que destaca el valor del carácter de Calixto García fue que estando cercado por el ejército español y sin forma de escapar se disparó un tiro bajo la barbilla con su revólver, afortunadamente el disparo no lo mató, pero le dejó graves secuelas de por vida, y una cicatriz en la frente por donde salió el proyectil, por la cual nuestro héroe nacional José Martí lo llamaría, "El hombre con la estrella en la frente".
Todo este memorial está rodeado por un imponente muro de granito negro. Me gustó mucho el detalle del interior de sus paredes, adornadas con un conjunto de imágenes en relieve que nos narran los pasajes más significativos de la vida de Calixto García y por tanto de la historia cubana. El piso bajo el Monumento es de un hermoso material de granito pulido en color blanco, y justo debajo de la Estatua hay un dibujo en forma de estrella en color negro, que crea un hermoso contraste en su diseño.
Su exterior está rodeado por un hermoso jardín con flores rojas. Lo más significativo son los dos cañones que custodian cada extremo del monumento. Para mis estos cañones simbolizan la fuerza y el valor de este patriota que dedico su vida a la lucha por la libertad.
Cómo amante de la historia de mi país siento un gran orgullo por todos los hombres admirables que lucharon por ella, por esta razón solo puedo sentir un gran respeto y gratitud hacia todos los héroes que durante muchos años combatieron por la libertad de esta tierra. El memorial a Calixto García es un digno recordatorio a la memoria y la grandeza de uno de estos valerosos héroes.
Me despido con un Gran Saludo, espero que hayan disfrutado esta lectura y por mi parte es un gusto siempre poder mostrar un poco sobre la Arquitectura y la historia de mi país.
¡Hasta la próxima! 🖐
-Todas las fotos son de mi propiedad, tomadas desde mi telefono celular Huawei P Smart. 📱
Hi Yordis. I recently passed by there and noticed this great and magestic work. Sometimes, unfortunately, such symbolic spaces go universally unnoticed here.
I also have a lot of respect for the "General of the Three Wars" —from my native Holguin—, and there is no one who can take him out of the top of the pantheon, although I have my judgments and criticisms for attitudes in which he could not have been superior to his time.
Thank you very much for this delivery friend. Greetings.
Hello, you are certainly from the land of Calixto García. Everyone is worthy of respect. The end of the war was complicated. Many of the great dead also, Maceo, Marti in short....
Thanks for your comment, I appreciate it.
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Es un gran monumento que guarda mucha historia , un gran memorial para un gran líder, felicidades @jordy0827 muy buen post 👋
Thank you very much my friend. I am glad you like it. 😊
Yay! 🤗
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Que bonito tu post amiga. Lleno de historia, valentía, honor y grandezas. Gracias por compartirlo con nosotros.
Complementaste la historia con las fotos de una manera magistral.🙌
Que tengas un excelente día. Saludos.
Thank you very much my friend. I'm glad you like it.
Cheers!
Hiya, @lizanomadsoul here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Daily Travel Digest #1852.
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You are welcome @jordy0827 👍😊
Top levlel article @jordy0827 and a lot of very suitable shots!... Thanks for sharing!
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Beautiful photos.
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@jordy0827 Thank you for educating me with anecdotes and photos about the man with the star on his forehead.
Gracias por culturizarme con anécdotas y fotos acerca del hombre de la estrella en la frente.
Thank you very much for reading me. I am delighted that you have been able to learn from my publication.
Greetings @jordy0827, thanks for sharing a little of the history of this distinguished character, the monument in his honor is a beautiful work, the cannons have a strategic location, they seem to be careful to the hero on his horse.
Happy and blessed day!
Thanks yo very much for your words. I am glad you like the publication.
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Gracias magnífico post que has dedicado a esta gran figura de nuestra historia, considero que es uno de los monumentos más bonito que se han hecho tus fotos son muy buenas mis saludos y que sigas haciendo esos artículos tan buenos para el deleite de todos.
Muchísimas Gracias, me alegra que le haya gustado. Lo mismo digo de Ud, continue con esos tan buenos post que hace.
Saludos
It is a very interesting statue and has a lot of presence. In addition, the square is really beautiful. I really like these places.
Thank you very much. It is really a great Memorial to a great man, I like it very much.
Cheers
wow this is such a wonderful site, elegant and full of glitter. The food also looks amazing. Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos.
Gracias por traer a Hive la historia de tan insigne patriota cubano. Siempre disfruto mucho tus publicaciones, y todos los detalles que te preocupas por incluir en ellas.
Un abrazo
Gracias nanix, muy agradecida de que te guste.
Saludos, fuerte ahí con las canchas que van mejorando!
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With enormous pleasure dear @jordy0827. We are truly grateful as well to you for staying with us. Cheers! 😀