Localization

The Museo Nacional de Lucha contra Bandidos is located one block northwest of Plaza Mayor, on Cristo Street #274 where it intersects with Boca Street.

 

 

Opening Hours

Friday - Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00

The Convento y Iglesia de San Francisco de Asís was a religious institution of Franciscan Order that ceased to function as a religious center due to the weakening of this order in Cuba as well as in Trinidad. The Museo Nacional de Lucha contra Bandidos (National Museum of the Fight Against Bandits) is currently located in this building. The combat against the counterrevolutionary gangs that existed in the central region of Cuba between 1959 and 1965, by the revolutionary government headed by Fidel Castro, is called the Fight Against Bandits.

With the dome-topped yellow- and white-trimmed bell tower it became one of the emblematic buildings that forms part of the Cuban architectural heritage.

The History

The Convento y Iglesia de San Francisco de Asís is linked to the Franciscan Order. The Franciscan friars arrived in the island first on Columbus' second voyage. Thereafter, they took charge of the evangelization of the New World, setting off from here for destinations throughout the Spanish Americas.

It is known that this order has existed in Trinidad since the 16th century. The friars Antonio del Espíritu Santo, Hernando de los Reyes, Pedro de la Sota and Antonio de la Sala took place in masses in Trinidad on different dates in the 16th century.

By the Royal Decree of Philip V in 1730, the Franciscan Order was authorized to build its own convent on the plot of of the Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Consolación de Utrera and the adjoining ancestral home that was donated by the married couple Gerónimo de Fuentes and Micaela Albeláez. At the beginning, the building was listed as a temple to Our Lady of Utrera.

From the same decree, it is understood that there was a meeting place, a hospice, of this order, first on Gutiérrez street, at the corner of Guaurabo, and later on the street called Las Animas (later Cristo), where aid was provided to those in need.

It is estimated that the construction of the convent and the church began in 1770. In the beginning, the construction of the church was quite slow. This changed with the arrival of Fray José de la Cruz Ezpí de Valencia in Trinidad in 1809. With the help of the neighbors and the devoted work of the priest, the building gradually began to take shape. It is said that even José Coppinger himself, the Lieutenant Governor of the town, was impressed by the selfless work of the local people and the priest, contributed to the work by carrying stones with his horses. Fray José de la Cruz Ezpí de Valencia's efforts in the construction of the church were appreciated by the City Council, and at its meeting in 1814, he was asked to stay in the city until the Convent of San Francisco de Asís was completed.

When the Convento e Iglesia de San Francisco de Asís opened its doors to the faithful on April 11, 1813, it was still in process of construction, but ready to begin offering masses.

Two historic bells were placed in the tower: one from the Ermita de la Cruz de la Piedad (Hermitage of the Cross of Mercy) and the other one from the Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Consolación de Utrera. It is understood that two more bells were placed in the church, but according to records in 1853, they were destroyed over time. The new bells were built by the French José Giroud in 1853 and 1856.

This building that was built as the Convent and Church of San Francisco de Asís, ceased to function in the following years. By 1826, the church lost its function due to the decrease in the number of the sect members when the Spanish state confiscated the monastery and the church. In addition, the convents of the religious orders in Spain were prosecuted between the years 1843-1844.Thus, while the new parish church (the church before Iglesia Mayor de la Santísima Trinidad) was being built, the church of the Franciscan Order was lent to the parish and the convent was reserved for its use. Once the parish church was completed in 1892, the Spanish government ordered the building back and installed the Spanish Army Headquarters there until 1898.

In 1902, the ownership of the empty building that couldn’t provide the religious service, was transferred to the government in Cuba which rented it out as a gallery. During this period it also served as a tobacco farm, stable, cockfighting pen, etc.

In 1910 it was seriously affected by the storm. The building, which was in extremely dilapidated condition in 1926, was demolished for reconstruction. During this demolition process, the bells cast in Trinidad and placed in the building in 1853, and the clock at the top placed in the building in 1834, were preserved.

The building, which was reconstructed considering the original architecture, was completed in 1930.

A public school began to operate there.

After the Revolution the building was occupied by a primary school until 1984.

On June 1, 1984, the Museo de la Lucha Contra Bandidos was inaugurated in the building to exhibit the activities of the counter-revolutionary gangs between 1959 and 1965 and to keep alive in the memory. It is the only one of its kind in the country.

During the conversion of the building into a museum, the tower was maintained as the only element of the original construction. With its 43.5-metre-high bell tower, it is the highest point in the city. This dome-topped yellow- and white-trimmed bell tower became Trinidad’s emblem. Baroque style of a Havana façade was adopted to the main façade. The small square in front of the convention (Plazuela del Cristo) was rebuilt after 1959.