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Presidio Modelo

Isla de la Juventud

The former model prison was ones the most sure one in Latinamerica. It is 5 km eastside the town and was built from 1926 to 1931 by diktator Machado according to a prison in Joliet, Illinois. It lodged 6000 prisoners in four round buildings with five floors each. In the center of each building there was a guard tower.

The two buildings, where today are the museums, was used in second world war to capture japanese and german prisoners.

In one of the buildings Fidel Castro and 25 comrades were captured after their attac to Moncada barracs. They lived separated from the other prisoners and built up inside the little revolutionary schooI, where they employed themselfs with revolution theory, economics and guerilla tactics. At 15th mai 1955 there werde send in freedom.

The impressing former administration building today is used as a school and research center from the union of young communists.

The museum is open from tuesday to saturday, 9 am to 17 pm and on sunday 9 am to 13 pm.