The Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Wifredo Lam (Contemporary Art Center of Wilfredo Lam) was the mansion of the Count San Fernando de Peñalvar in the 18th century. The cultural institution that was destined to the study, investigation and promotion of the contemporary visual arts in the developing countries, was established in 1983 as a tribute to Wilfredo Lam (1902-1982), the outstanding Cuban artist of the 20th century. He integrated elements of African and Chinese cultures, present in Cuba, into Cuban painting

The center has a rich collection of different manifestations of contemporary visual arts (painting, sculpture, photography, engraving, drawing, video, architecture etc.), consisting of about 1.250 valuable pieces. They are formed from the donations of the artists or acquired through the purchase of the institutions and artists. The building has spacious exhibition halls, a conference room, the Library of the Wilfredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, and a video library.

Aside the entrance on the wall, there is a plaque and a wreath made of stone, informing us that the famous Austrian ballerina Fanny Elssler stayed in this mansion during her visits in 1841-42.