The Murals of Santa Clara (Melaíto Murals) present a light-hearted look at political situations, both past and present, from Cuba and around the world. This series of comic book cartoon paintings adorn the wall of a street located a short walk from Santa Clara’s city centre. The Murals is a public art gallery produced by a group of caricaturists called Melaíto. The group also creates a monthly comic book section for a local newspaper.
All of the paintings are temporary exhibits and are changed on a regular basis. Among popular themes are terrorism, war and world peace. The long-running political tension between Cuba and the U.S. is another common inspiration of the artists. While the artwork touches on delicate issues, the aim is to highlight them in a jovial form.
Expect to see portrayals of soldiers in comical settings and the repeated use of peace signs. Previous cartoons have included a gun-wielding military officer running on a conveyer belt adorned with the names of countries invaded by the United States. Another example is an hourglass with arms and ammunition floating at the top and doves at the bottom.
Many of the paintings are accompanied by captions written in Spanish. Use a language dictionary to gain a deeper understanding of the ideas that the artists wish to convey.
Find the attraction on Marta Abreu street close to the Inter Municipal Bus Terminal. It’s a short taxi ride or a 15-minute walk from Leoncio Vidal Park, which is Santa Clara’s lively central square.
You can easily incorporate a visit to the Murals with a walk to the Che Guevara Monument and Mausoleum. This attraction houses the remains of the Argentine revolutionary Ernesto Guevara and some of his fellow guerrillas. Gaze up at the imposing statue of Guevara and learn about his life with a stop in the adjacent museum. Other places to visit in Santa Clara include Teatro La Caridad and the Cathedral of Santa Clara of Assisi.
