Could you imagine living in a neighborhood where practically every surface of every building was decorated like this?
A neighborhood where mosaic-covered sculptures grow out of buildings?
A neighborhood with few surfaces unadorned with a combination of paintings and pieces of tile composed into an explosion of color and playful art forms.
Welcome to Jaimanitas, a community on the northwestern edge of Havana, Cuba. Today, it’s known as Fusterlandia, and is the home, studio and artistic dream (or wild kingdom) of artist José Rodriguez Fuster, who moved to previously run-down neighborhood more than 30 years ago.
Fuster (as everyone in the neighborhood calls him) had visited Europe and returned to Cuba filled with inspiration from Gaudi in Barcelona and Brancusi in Romania. He set out to change the look of his home and studio, and over the years, his work has changed the look of the entire neighborhood in a dramatic way.
Artist José Rodríguez Fuster, of Havana, Cuba. Photo by Soydcuba.
The community of Jaimanitas is now a unique work of public art where Fuster has decorated more than 80 houses with ornate murals, each designed to suit the personality of his neighbors.
The artful community now known as “Fusterlandia” draws tourists from around the world, who visit the artist’s residence and studio, often buying his painting and ceramics. Fuster’s art sales fund more neighborhood works.
I had the opportunity to visit Fusterlandia on the Best of Havana tour, which was included in my 7-day cruise to Cuba on the Fathom Adonia. Fathom is the new social impact cruise brand from Carnival Corporation. The 710-passenger ship sails to three ports in Cuba, round trip from Miami, every other week.
The Fathom Cuban cruise itinerary includes two days of people-to-people tours while the ship is docked in Havana. Guests can take the people-to-people tours, or set out on their own “self-guided” people-to-people experience.
A NOTE IF YOUR ARE TAKING A FATHOM CRUISE TO CUBA: not every Best of Havana tour visits Fusterlandia because it would be too many people in the small neighborhood. If this sounds like something important to you, be sure to ask the Fathom impact guides which tours will include this stop on their agenda, and ask to be put on one of those tours.
Alternatively, you could hire a taxi to take you to Fusterlandia on your own.
There are many classic cars in Havana; but this one I saw in the Fusterlandia neighborhood was my favorite. In the background behind the car, you can see more of Fuster’s artwork.
One has to look close to find paintings signed by Fuster, like the one above that is incorporated into a larger mosaic work.
Have you visited Havana, Cuba? If not, would you consider a cruise to Cuba?
Other Cuba-related posts, in case you missed them:
- Cementerio de Cristobal Colon, Havana, Cuba
- Visiting Finca La Vigía, the Ernest Hemingway Museum in Cuba
- A Look Around the Adonia Cruise Ship from fathom
- Reflecting on My Visit to Cuba: People to People Interactions Were the Best
- Adding Cuba to My Travelers’ Century Club List of 325 Destinations
- 50 Interesting Facts about Cuba
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