Museo de la Lucha Contra Bandidos (The Struggle against the Counter-revolutionary Insurgents Museum) is located in the San Francisco church and convent from 1813 led by Padre Jose de la Cruz Espi. The only original part left is the bell tower. Exhibits include guns, a boat, documents, maps, part of a US spy plane, general history of warfare.

About Museo de la Lucha Contra Bandidos

Museo de la Lucha Contra Bandidos

During the early 1800s, this building of San Francisco de Asís was the most important religious institution in Trinidad. It was built as a church and convent for the Franciscans who moved here in 1813.  In 1848, however, the Franciscans abandoned the church due to the decree of exclaustration and the parish used it until another one was built.

Under the direction of Padre Jose de la Cruz Espi from Valencia, construction began in 1809 with donations and local workers. It was even reported that the governor Coppinger with his horse pulled stone for the heavy work.

            It now hosts the Museo de la Lucha Contra Bandidos (The Struggle against the Counter-revolutionary Insurgents Museum) which was inaugurated here in 1930.

In all the rooms there is comprehensive information about the battles conducted by the National Revolutionary Militia against counterrevolutionary bands in the Escambray mountain ranges between 1960-1965. They deal with the history about the struggle against bandits. Documents, testimonies and maps illustrate exactly the areas fought over and conquered in the war.

This display contains the hammock used by Ernesto Che Guevara during the invasion from east to west.

In the large cloistral patio is a speed boat captured by the rebels. Equipped with a high powered engine of 140HP, two heavy machine guns, with sonar and radar on board it was apparently used by the imperial forces to launch pirate attacks along the Cuban shores. It’s secondary function was to support the insurgents working against the rebels.

In another room is this display case dedicated to Gustavo Castellon Milian. He was recognised as one of the most capable leaders of the LCB in this area and fought with distinction for Cuban independence.

Several exhibits are showing of light arms such as guns and pistols while other displays show heavy armaments like bazookas and automatic weapons again captured or taken in raids.

In the middle of the floor is this exhibit which is part of a fuselage from an American U-2 spy plane. It was shot down over Cuban airspace on the 27th of October 1962.

On the opposite side of the patio to the boat is this large troop carrier. It was used by the rebels to transport men and supplies into the mountainous regions to combat the insurgents. The Russian inscription on the side would obviously indicate where this and probably other army vehicles were supplied from.

Stairs under the tower lead firstly up to a large roof top terrace from where it’s possible to get a panoramic view over the whole of Trinidad.

In 1920 the church was pulled down due to its bad state and so the yellow bell tower is the only structure that remains of the original church and convent.

The architectural style displays a high, central, solidly built stone tower in contrast to the previous century’s Creole baroque style buildings that so typify Trinidad. Two bells placed in the tower were historically significant as they came from La Cruz de la Piedad Hermitage and the former Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria Hermitage respectively. They were made in 1853 by Don Jose Giroud.

References

 José Martí, Trinidad de Cuba, Colombia 2003, pp40-41.

Connor Gorry, Lonely Planet – Cuba, Italy 2004, p283.

Categories: Architectural | Art | Business | Castles | Educational | Historical | Leisure | Monuments | Museums | Political | Religious |