MIAMI, United States. – The city of Pinar del Río is home to an architectural jewel that surprises its visitors for its originality and artistic richness: the Palacio de Guasch. This eclectic building, built in 1914 by Francisco Guasch Ferrer, is currently the Museum of Natural History Tranquilino Sandalio de Noda.
The Guasch Palace is the result of a dream come true by Francisco Guasch Ferrer, who designed and built the building as a gift for his wife, with only the help of two masons. The work is a personal reinterpretation of the dissimilar cultures and architectural styles that Guasch Ferrer knew throughout his life, mixing elements of Gothic, Egyptian, Byzantine, Islamic and influences from Catalan modernism.
This amalgamation of styles can be appreciated in details such as the Doric capital, the Arabic ogive, the Hindu portico and an Egyptian column in which the pharaoh and his court appear. Likewise, the presence of seahorses, gargoyle-like heads and winged monsters in the decoration of the palace capture the attention of those who visit it, creating a unique and mysterious atmosphere.
Dr. Guasch Ferrer spared no financial resources for the construction of the palace, and was even involved in the design of the leaded stained glass windows, painted pictures for the walls, built much of the furniture, and designed the lamps, which were made later in Europe.
One of the most surprising attractions of the Palacio de Guasch is its patio, which resembles a Jurassic park with sculptures of dinosaurs carved in stone. These representations of the animal kingdom enrich the experience of visitors to the Tranquilino Sandalio de Noda Natural History Museum, which was inaugurated in the palace on March 8, 1979, with the aim of exposing the most representative of Cuban fauna and exotic specimens. .
The Guasch Palace is considered one of the first jewels of eclecticism in Cuba and in America, and your visit is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the architectural and cultural wealth of the province of Pinar del Río.
