From the Malecón to Miramar: Calixto García Monument [ENG/ESP]
Hello my traveling friends, today I want to invite you to see an important monument that had to be moved from its original location in order to preserve it.
This is the monument to General Calixto García, unveiled in early 1959 at the Malecon and G Street, in the central Vedado neighborhood of Havana, a very beautiful and important area of the Cuban capital. But the proximity to the sea and the ravages of hurricanes accelerated its deterioration.
I'm showing you 2 photos I found on this site. One of them shows the impact of a hurricane that caused high waves and flooded the entire area where the monument was located.
For this reason, it was dismantled in 2017 for restoration. In 2019, it was relocated to the Playa roundabout in the Miramar neighborhood, located at 5th Avenue and 146th Street, where it stands proudly, surrounded by a vibrant environment.
It's a busy place with both domestic and tourist traffic. The municipal bus terminal is nearby. 5th Avenue is also a major expressway connecting the entire city along the north coast.
At the roundabout, there's a popular gas station for car service, and there's also a major sports center where baseball, our national sport, is primarily played.
Today dawned very cloudy. As you can see in the photos, the low clouds create a helmet-like effect, which prevents air flow and makes the heat more intense and humid. But I went out to run some errands anyway and had the good fortune to pass by where it currently stands.
I had the opportunity to admire its grandeur and elegant design up close, worthy of honoring a great Cuban who participated in the three wars for independence from Spanish colonialism.
From afar, we can see the enormous equestrian sculpture on a high pedestal, located in a large plaza with well-kept gardens and wavy areas painted blue, representing the sea surrounding our archipelago. In front, it is guarded by two enormous cannons.
The sculpture is protected by walls with bronze plaques on the inside narrating the most significant episodes in the General's life, which is an important part of Cuban history.
It is truly a spectacular design; in one of the reliefs on the black marble, we see a map of Cuba with the layout of the battles in which he participated. At the top it says:
To die for one's country is to live.
The design of the monument was carried out by the architect Elbert Peets, and the bronze sculpture of Calixto García was created by Viennese artist Félix W. de Weldon.
A close look at the floor reveals a large star in the center of which is the pedestal with the equestrian sculpture. The emblem of the Republic of Cuba can be seen on its front.
This new location of the monument has revitalized its presence in the heart of the community, and it can be observed and admired by many people who pass by this place every day.
In this place, it is protected from the direct assault of the sea, but it is only a few meters from the coast, so salt water continues to impact and deteriorate it. It is clearly in need of further restoration.
The site where it originally stood is empty; its imposing presence facing the Havana seawall is missed. The residents long for its return.
Will it ever return?
I hope you enjoyed learning about this important monument and the history it holds.
See you soon!
Historical data was found on this site.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOLDel Malecón a Miramar: Monumento de Calixto García
Hola mis amigos viajeros, hoy quiero invitarlos a conocer un importante monumento que hubo de ser desplazado de su lugar de origen con el objetivo de preservarlo.
Se trata del monumento al General Calixto García que fue develado a principios de 1959 en Malecón y calle G, en la céntrica zona del Vedado habanero, zona muy bella e importante de la capital cubana. Pero la cercanía con el mar y los azotes de huracanes aceleraron su deterioro.
Les muestro 2 fotos que encontré en este sitio, en una de ellas se observa el impacto de un huracán que provocaba altas olas y el agua marina inundaba toda la zona donde se encontraba el monumento.
Por este motivo en el año 2017 se desmontó para restaurarlo y luego en el 2019 se ubicó en la rotonda de Playa, en el barrio de Miramar, cita en 5ta Avenida y 146 donde se erige orgullosamente, rodeado de un entorno lleno de vitalidad.
Es un lugar con mucho tráfico de autos y personas tanto nacionales como turistas, muy cerca se encuentra la terminal de autobuses municipal, además, 5ta Avenida es una arteria principal de vía rápida que conecta toda la ciudad por la costa norte.
En la rotonda hay una gasolinera muy solicitada para serviciar los autos y también hay un importante centro deportivo donde se practica fundamentalmente el béisbol, nuestro deporte nacional.
Hoy amaneció muy nublado, como pueden ver en las fotos, las nubes bajas hacen el efecto de un casco, por eso no corre el aire y el calor se hace más intenso y húmedo. Pero de todas formas salí a realizar gestiones y tuve la dicha de pasar justamente por donde está ubicado actualmente.
Tuve la oportunidad de admirar de cerca su grandeza y su elegante diseño, digno para homenajear a un gran cubano que participó en las tres guerras por la independencia del colonialismo español.
Desde lo lejos apreciamos la enorme escultura ecuestre sobre un alto pedestal situada en una gran plaza con jardines bien cuidados y zonas ondeadas pintadas de color azul que representan el mar que rodea nuestro archipiélago. Al frente tiene dos enormes cañones custodiándolo.
La escultura está protegida de muros que tienen en su lado interior placas de bronce que narran episodios más trascendentales de la vida del General, que es parte importante de la historia cubana.
Es realmente un diseño muy espectacular, en uno de los relieves sobre el mármol negro vemos un mapa de Cuba con el trazado de las batallas libradas en las que participó. En la parte superior se lee Morir por la Patria es Vivir.
El diseño del monumento lo realizó el arquitecto Elbert Peets y la escultura de Calixto García en bronce la realizó el artista vienés Félix W. de Weldon.
Al observar con detenimiento el piso podemos apreciar una gran estrella en cuyo centro está situado el pedestal con la escultura ecuestre, en su parte frontal vemos el escudo de la República de Cuba.
Esta nueva ubicación del monumento ha revitalizado su presencia en el corazón de la comunidad y puede ser observado y admirado por muchas personas que recorren este lugar cada día.
En este lugar está protegido del asedio directo del mar, pero solo se encuentra a pocos metros de la costa por lo que el salitre lo sigue impactando y deteriorando. Se puede observar claramente que necesita de una nueva restauración.
El sitio donde estuvo inicialmente se encuentra vacío, se extraña su imponente presencia frente al malecón habanero. Los pobladores desean que vuelva.
¿Volverá algún día?
Es mi deseo que les haya gustado conocer este importante monumento y la historia que contiene.
¡Hasta pronto!
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Thanks very much 🤗
Hey @mayramalu you are welcome.
Thanks for using @worldmappin 😘
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Thanks very much 🤗
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful place with us. Looking at the pictures you shared, I feel like visiting that place once. I especially liked the horse statue and the cannon statue.
Hi I'm very glad you like it, thanks for your appreciation, best regards 🤗
Welcome my friend ❤️
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Thanks very much 🤗
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I found it touching that the monument’s journey mirrors the very struggles it commemorates, resilience through adversity, relocation for preservation and the hope of return.
Thanks @gretelarmfeg for your accurate comment, I am one of those who would like him to return to his place of origin because that place looks desolate and his presence is missed, best regards 🤗
You're welcome! Thanks for sharing this wonderful place!🤗
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