Mariana Grajales Cuello Monument

The monument to Mariana Grajales Cuello

The Havana audio-guided tour invites you to quiet contemplation before the monument dedicated to Mariana Grajales Cuello, a figure deeply loved in Cuba, nicknamed "the mother of the homeland".

A heroine of independence

Born in 1808 in Santiago de Cuba, Mariana Grajales Cuello entered history by her exemplary commitment. She defended the dignity and the rights of women, supported the cause of the abolition of slavery, in connection with her Afro-Cuban roots, and distinguished herself in the heart of the three great wars of independence of Cuba against Spain, between 1868 and 1898. In a hostile environment, she organised the provisioning of the troops, created a hospital to care for the wounded and accompanied her family in the struggle, at the peril of their lives. José Martí paid her a vibrant tribute.

What there is to see

The monument represents Mariana Grajales Cuello on a stele, paying tribute to her courage, her determination and her humanity. A patriot, but also a wife and mother bereaved by the struggle, she is today considered the mother of Cuba. It is a place of memory imbued with respect, which honours one of the most loved female figures of the country.

Practical information

The monument to Mariana Grajales Cuello is in the Vedado district, in Havana. It is a public monument visible freely at all hours and on the level. It can be contemplated with the respect due to the figure it honours.

Who was Mariana Grajales Cuello?

A heroine of Cuban independence, committed to the rights of women and the abolition of slavery, nicknamed the mother of Cuba.

In what wars did Mariana Grajales take part?

In the three great wars of independence of Cuba against Spain, between 1868 and 1898, where she organised provisioning and cared for the wounded.