Cuartel Moncada

This former military barracks (General Portuondo, e/ Av. de los Libertadores y Carlos Aponte), with castellated walls and turrets, is renowned for the fateful day on July 26, 1953, when Fidel Castro and his poorly armed cohorts stormed the barracks. After the Revolution, Moncada was turned into a school, the Ciudad Escolar 26 de Julio. A portion of the main building near the entrance gate is riddled with bullet holes. They’re not the originals, however; Batista’s troops filled those in. Castro apparently had the holes redone using photographs. This section today houses the Museo Histórico 26 de Julio (also known as the Museo de la Revolución, tel. 022/62-0157; Tues.–Sat. 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m.; entrance CUC2, cameras CUC1, videos CUC5), which tells the tale of the attack and subsequent revolutionary history. Prolific weaponry includes Castro’s personal sharpshooter rifle. A separate room is dedicated to José Martí.