Casa Natal de José María Heredia is marked incorrectly on Google map. Actually, it is the house on Heredia street #6, next to the building marked on the map above.

Tuesday - Saturday  09:00-17:00

This colonial house is the birthplace of José María Heredia y Heredia (1803-1839) that is one of the greatest Latin American poets. Although he studied law and carried out an abundant work as a translator of different literary works, he is known by his romantic poems that were forbidden in Cuba until the revolution. Submerged in longings and loneliness, he fell ill with tuberculosis and died in exile at the age of 35. His famous works are “Oda al Niágara”, ”En el teocalli de Cholula”, and “El himno del desterrado”. 

Heredia’s family left the house when he was 3 years old, so that the house served as barracks and later as hospital for slaves for a while. Then it was abandoned, and subsequently fell into ruins. At the end of the 19th century, La Asociación Junta Heredia was established to rescue the dilapidated house and to convert it to a center where his ideas would be disseminated. José Martí was one of the contributors. In 1895, with the endeavor of the poet Efraín Nadurau, the Ministry of Culture started to grant the José María Heredia plaque to personalities and institutions that have made contributions to Cuban culture. In 1889 the house was declared a National Monument. In the restoration in 1959, the ceramic floors are renovated, and the original image of the house has been maintained. In 1997 it became a part of the Conservatory.

The mildly interesting museum exhibits documents (various first editions of his work), paintings, family photos and other relics that are enriched by recent donations of Heredia's great-great-grandchildren, living in Santiago de Cuba.

On Tuesday and Thursday local poets meet for discussions and recitals on the patio at the back of the house.