The development of tourism in Cuba, supported by its rich nature, history and culture, is complemented by dozens of facilities dedicated to the preservation of the country's heritage.

A wide network of museums, with more than 300 such institutions, holds the legacy of past times, with the most varied designs and contents, for the enjoyment of nationals and foreigners.

According to statistics, there are 14 museums of art, seven of science and technology, five of ethnography and anthropology and 68 of history, as well as nine specialized museums, four on archeology and the rest on general matters.

Despite the specialization, all museums have the common objective of transferring the teachings of yesteryear to Cuba's new reality.

Most of Cuban museums are in Havana, with a wide range of facilities for the most diverse tastes, many of which are unique in the country.

In particular, the traditions and evolutions of the coins in the archipelago stand out, with more than 100,000 pieces among the collections of the Numismatic Museum of Havana.

Medals, decorations, paper money, bonds, lottery tickets, numismatic documents and even counterfeits detected in the country are part of the museum's heritage, grouped into the various stages that comprise Cuban history: Colony, the Republic in Arms, the pseudo-republic and after 1959.

One of the biggest museums is National Museum of Fine Arts, which was created in 1913 and had its own headquarters since 1954, when the building known as the Palace of Fine Arts was constructed.

Likewise, Havana's historic center, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, holds more than 100 buildings whose origin dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries, while 200 buildings from the 18th century.

Memories are also present in the Museum of Colonial Art, located in Cathedral Square, one of the best preserved in Old Havana, and built in 1720 in the stately style of the 18th century.

In turn, eastern Santiago de Cuba treasures centuries-old memories, with a defensive system that is considered the highest exponent of European Renaissance in military engineering in the Caribbean, made up of the castles of San Pedro de La Roca, La Estrella and La Socapa battery.

Located in that very eastern city is the Museum of Carnival, dedicated to that cultural manifestation, which is deeply rooted in the country.

Its halls are completely dedicated to the history of these popular celebrations, different from those that take place in other parts of Cuba, mainly due to the fact that originally they combine Spanish, African and Franco-Haitian influences.