Che Guevara Mausoleum

The Che Guevara Mausoleum is a monument, museum and burial site in Santa Clara, Cuba, where thirty revolutionaries rest. The complex sits on a hill at the western edge of town and consists of a large plaza with a bronze statue, an underground chamber and exhibition rooms holding personal belongings and documents.

The memorial was built after the December 29, 1958 victory when Guevara forces derailed a military train carrying weapons and soldiers. His remains returned from Bolivia in 1997, where they had been discovered after thirty years of searching.

The large bronze figure shows Guevara in military dress holding a rifle and looking south toward his former campaign grounds. The memorial follows the layout of a military camp with low buildings made of pale stone arranged around an open square.

The site stands on a hill overlooking Santa Clara and can be reached with regular bus connections from Havana. Tours are offered in several languages and help visitors understand the meaning of the displayed items.

An underground passage links the plaza with the crypt, where temperature is kept constant to protect the remains. All cameras and phones must be left behind before entering the chamber to preserve the dignity of the space.