Welcome

Life in Havana

About Havana

Life in Cuba

About Cuba

Cuba Culture

Cuba Info

Havana Updates

Jose Marti

José Marti statue Parque Central Havana Cuba

Jose Marti is omnipresent in Cuba, almost every village or town has a José Marti statue, street, avenue or José Marti square.
José Marti was a Cuban freedom fighter, poet, journalist and revolutionary thinker.

He became a Cuban National Hero and an icon in the Cuban independence wars against Spain.
Born to poor Spanish parents in Havana, he became already involved during his youth in an independence movement and after a jail sentence forced into exile to Spain.
In Spain he wrote poems and studied philosophy at the universities. Later he travelled to Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba and New York where he stayed for almost ten years.
After the New York era he returned to Cuba to found the Cuban Revolutionary Party and raised money to buy weapons for the armed resistance against Spain.
He joined the revolutionary general Maximo Gomez and was killed in a battle in May 19, 1895.

Museo Casa Natal de José Marti - Birthplace of José Marti

Leonor Pérez street 314, between Picota street and Egido street.
Open: Tuesday - Saterday 9.00 - 5.00 pm
Sunday 9.00 - 13.00 - 1 Cuc

A small house where José Marti was born and lived the first years of his life. The collection exhibits photos and documents of his imprisonment and trips to Latin America and New York.

Memorial and Museo José Marti - Jose Marti Monument

Location : Plaza de la Revolution
The museum is dedicated to the life of the Cuban National Hero and exhibits photos, letters and documents. The museum is housed in a tower with a height of 139m, the highest point in Havana city. In front of the tower is a 18m high José Marti statue carved in white marble.

José Marti Poems

José Marti is best known for the lyrics of the famous song Guantanamera This popular Cuban song are verses from his poetry work Versos Sencillos The song was made popular worldwide by the American Folksinger Pete Seeger.

Yo soy un hombre sincero
de donde crece la palma
y antes de morime quiero
echar mis versos del alma

Best poetry of José Marti

His important poetry among many others are:

Ismaelillo (1882)

Versos Sencillos (1891)

Versos Libres

From the poetry volume : Versos Libres

Cultivo una rosa blanca,
En julio como enero
Para el amigo sincero
Que me da su mano franca.
Y para el cruel que me arranca
El corazón con que vivio,
Cardo ni orgula cultivo,
Cultivo la rosa blanca.

I cultivate a white rose
In July as in January
For the sincere friend
Who gives me his hand frankly
And for the cruel person who tears
out the heart with which I live,
I cultivate neither nettles nor thorns:
I cultivate a white rose

Related info:
Life of José Marti
Quotes of José Marti
"Others go to bed with their mistresses; I with my ideas."- Jose Marti

More quotes: José Marti Quotes

Not found what you're looking for?
Search for more detailed info in HAVANA-GUIDE

Custom Search

Return from Jose Marti page to History of Cuba