The Napoleonic Museum of Havana was founded on December 1, 1961 and it is one of the most complete museums from the Western world in its genre. It is located on a side of the Havana University campus, in a Florentine-styled palace, treasuring diverse objects used by Napoleón Bonaparte along different stages of his life: Bonaparte`s guns used at Borodino Battle, the bicornio and spyglasses used at Santa Elena Battle, diverse pieces marking the end of the Borbon monarchy, samples of the historical periods known as Directorio and Consulado, different pieces coming from the First Empire and personal objects of Napoleón I.

Surrounding the external walls of Havana University, a nice surprise awaits for you. In the highest elevation of San Miguel street it is the house #1159 in Centro Havana. It is an ancient edification, opening the Napoleonic Museum`s doors.
This place is considered as the house of the Great Corso in the island. Its ambience and ornamentation seems to be expecting the arrival of the Emperor to the Antilles. Its valuable funds, most of them original, offer a French atmosphere in the middle of the capital. The collections that are part of this cultural patrimony were treasured by wealthy personalities of the country .
Among them we can highlight weapons and militar clothes of the epoch, well-labored bronzes, coins, porcelains, paintings and personal objects of Napoleón Bonaparte.

The furniture is arranged as a reliable view of an entire epoch. Tables, candleholders and ornament prove the union of an imperial family. One of the beds used by this great personality awaits in one of the rooms, while engraves of diverse styles and hairs of the Emperor will join us around this three-floors building.
Among its main pieces is the face of the Gran Corzo. The mask stored in the museum was made by Doctor Francesco Antommarchi two days after Napoleón`s death.
This was the last doctor who assisted him in Santa Elena, who some years later moved to Santiago de Cuba.

This sample of Napoleón`s face was delivered to sculptor Cánova. In 1833 a subscription was organized for the limited reproduction of the bronze mask, melted at the workshop of Richard and Quesnel in Paris. The copies were distributed among relatives and marshals. From this group, one came to our country and complete, very close of his bed, the collection of this original Cuban institution.

In the last floor, a wide library on built-in furniture gathers life and work of this outstanding historical personality of France. From his watchtower, Havana surroundings are easy to perceive and the zig-zag hill of the residence, which is having also numerous decorative elements in a beautiful interior yard.

By Miralys Sánchez Pupos