On January 28th, 2005, the sculpture by plastic artist Roberto Estrada was unveiled in the José Martí Park. The piece, 1.80 in height and approximately 450 kilograms in weight, was not placed in that place casually, or arbitrarily. It turns out that this small park, despite having had important morphological changes throughout history; it has always been linked in one way or another to the teaching profession. In addition, the Apostle’s son with Carmen Zayas Bazán lived with his mother a few meters from the place.

José Martí Park, the Youth Park or simply the old San Francisco square has been the headquarters of several schools in the city.

Firstly, Catholic teaching centers were built, such as the San Francisco convent, where the friars gave Philosophy and Latin lessons. Then the Pious Schools were located there.

For this reason, the square began to be frequented by a large number of young people who went there to receive these lessons. In 1921, the Salesianas arrived at the site, an order that entered Cuba for the first time, with the aim of opening a school for poor and orphaned girls in the old house of Tomás Pío Betancourt, which reinforces the religious and educational character of the place.

It was not until 1944 that the square became a park, as the characteristic furniture of this type of public space was placed. From then on, this park has become a meeting place for the youth and with the passing of time, one of the most important sites for the development of revolutionary ideas.

After the Triumph of the Revolution, a bust of José Martí was placed there, which today is located in the headquarters of the Office of the Historian of Camagüey city and which was replaced by the current sculpture of Estrada.

Over the years, schools have been transformed and have welcomed students of different ages and school levels. That is why the educational message of Estrada’s sculpture guides all the youth of Camagüey who meet every day in this park.

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García