Calimete

The municipality of Calimete has within its buildings of heritage value a work that constitutes a true jewel within the architecture of the territory, the building that today occupies the Museum “Combate de Godínez”, which owes its name to one of the events most important historical events that occurred during the invasion campaign in the 95 war.

On December 29, 1895, the Mambisa troops with Gómez and Maceo in front, held in the demolished Godínez sugar mill, located 2 kilometers from Calimete, one of the bloodiest combats of the Mambisa invasion and one of the most costly of this company, Because 16 Cuban patriots lost their lives and 69 were wounded. In this combat the Spanish column made up of 850 men, showed their courage before the courage displayed by the Cubans. There the successful culmination of the invasion was decided, it would be the last meeting with the Spanish forces in Matanzas, because having overcome the danger they were in, they left behind the enemy hosts that followed them and entered Havana.

As part of the activities that took place in commemoration of such a patriotic date, on December 29, 2010, the reopening of the Museum took place, which for more than 10 years had been closed to the public. After an extraordinary effort, this building was restored to show the values ​​that it treasures and that collects the history and culture of the territory.

This Museum had been inaugurated on May 10, 1982, as part of the activities of the sixth Culture Week in Calimete, complying with the provisions of Law 23 of December of 1978 -in force at that time-, which made possible the creation of municipal museums. At the end of the 90s, due to the high degree of deterioration that the property presented and the impossibility of carrying out its restoration, it had to close its doors to the public.

Thanks to the support provided by the Directorate of Heritage in the province, the Provincial Directorate of Culture and the work of the authorities, institutions, organizations of the municipality, as well as the Museum's own workers, it was able to reopen its doors, with all its rooms refurbished, a quality assembly and better conditioning of its infrastructure.

The Museum "Combate de Godínez", like other of its kind, has among its objectives to preserve the local heritage, investigate it and above all show it. Strengthen ties with the centers, agencies and organizations in the territory, particularly with Education, for which it has a classroom-museum, a unique modality in the province of Matanzas. Students from the various educational centers of the municipality pass through it, which allows a greater knowledge of history, fostering love for the small country and forming values ​​in our children and youth.

The institution has 7 permanent exhibition halls, and on its route the visitor will be able to appreciate pieces belonging to different periods of our history, photographs or other objects referring to our locality that reflect the traditions of the town, the most outstanding episodes of their struggles, the events and lives of the most prominent personalities in the various periods, as well as the development of their economy, culture and institutions.

The building

Imagen20 Located in the central Independencia street, it is one of the main constructive exponents of the municipality and stands out for its environmental, architectural and historical value.

Erected at the beginning of the 20th century, on land that was owned by Sixto Sánchez Sardiñas (mayor of Manguito from 1926 to 1930); it had this and his family as owners and sole inhabitants from 1919, until it passed into the hands of the State to be converted into a Museum.

It stands out for its sumptuousness in an area where simple homes predominate, so it breaks with the surrounding context due to its architectural individuality. Its designer is unknown.

It is a single-storey masonry work with a plate cover, elevated on a base approximately one meter high. The typology of its construction responds to an eclectic style. Its wide portal with large wooden and lattice windows, its columns, the capitals, friezes and cornices decorated with different moldings are striking.

Although some changes were made to the interior for the initial assembly, the distribution and use of its main rooms was maintained. In the property we can see at the entrance a large room, to the right of it, a corridor or corridor, which divides the room, from the rest of the rooms where the museum pieces are currently exhibited. In the exterior area there is a vast patio surrounded by a garden, which does not offer a cold vision of a public building, but rather gives us the homely feeling for which it was conceived, protected by a fence of masonry and iron bars, with its also iron door that allows entry to the property. The institution's offices are located precisely on the outside of the building.

The assembly of the Museum was carried out according to the following distribution of its exhibition rooms:

• Aboriginal archeology
• Economic development (colony)
• War of independence
• Neocolonial Republic
• Revolution
• Epigraphic room
• One of extension (Memorial Hanábana) located in the historical site Caimito de La Hanábana.

Community Activities

Image 21In addition to the activities of an institution of this type, the Museum "Combate de Godínez is the permanent headquarters of the Peña Folclórica that stars on the second Saturday of each month, the carrying group Ará okó de okán, faithful exponent of the Yoruba tradition- lucumí, with a strong presence in the territory and sample of the intangible heritage of the town. This institution is also the headquarters of the Community Sociocultural Project ‘’ El naranjo del patio ’’, which is an option for young people and develops its activities on the third Friday of each month at night.

Contact information

Phone: 45-375228

Hour hand of service: From Monday to Saturday of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

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