Holguín's Plaza de la Marqueta Sculptures Face Risk of Collapse

In Holguín, a city well-known for its public squares, five sculptures in Plaza de la Marqueta are showing alarming signs of structural decay. A local content creator recently highlighted this pressing issue in a video shared across social media, raising concerns about potential collapses if urgent restoration efforts are not undertaken.

The video tour of the plaza, a central hub in the city, revealed visible fractures, detachments, and other damages affecting several of the sculptural figures prominently displayed there.

“One sculpture has already fallen. Without immediate intervention, the same fate awaits these five,” warned the creator at the start of the video.

The sculptures in jeopardy include “El señor de la picota,” which has a noticeable crack in the neck, “El hombre sentado,” with visible fractures, and “El hombre del saco,” which is missing an arm. Additionally, “La señora con el bolso” and “El señor del taburete” are also showing significant structural damage, with cracks apparent in various parts of the figures.

The video attributed these damages primarily to a lack of regular maintenance and societal negligence, as people often sit on the sculptures to take pictures. “No matter how excellent the materials used, these works require periodic upkeep,” the creator stressed.

The post sparked a wave of reactions among Holguín residents, who voiced their frustration over the neglect of urban heritage and criticized local authorities' indifference. Some reminded that these sculptures represent real people tied to the city's popular history. “Each statue tells a story of Holguín,” commented Arnaldo Morales, while others decried the overwhelming apathy, saying that those responsible “are sitting behind a desk, uncaring.”

There was also criticism of the local regime's investment priorities. “Yet so much material is wasted on kiosks,” one user remarked, pointing out the contrast between cultural neglect and other government-backed projects.

Katia Oduardo Grimal noted, “Every day we lose the will to preserve our city. Many of the Plaza's venues are leased to the state, bringing in substantial revenue, so they should maintain and restore these surrounding sites.”

Residents and social media users are calling for immediate restoration to prevent the irreversible loss of these sculptures, in a city where the deterioration of public spaces, monuments, and historical buildings has become increasingly evident amid the country's economic crisis.

The situation in Plaza de la Marqueta is part of a broader pattern of heritage abandonment that has intensified in Holguín. Earlier this month, the sculpture “La mujer con sombrilla” collapsed on Libertad Street's pedestrian boulevard after weeks of public warnings went unheeded by the authorities. It had to be relocated to the sculptor's home for safekeeping.

Just days before, the sword of the statue of Major General Julio Grave de Peralta was stolen for at least the third time from Parque de las Flores, and on May 20, part of the roof of the Ismaelillo Theater, formerly the Victoria Cinema, collapsed.

The Market Square, or La Marqueta, is situated in the heart of Cuba's City of Parks. Originally constructed in 1829, it underwent a major restoration between 2014 and 2017 to transform it into a cultural and tourist complex with over 30 commercial stands. Now, it faces the threat of losing the very artworks that define its unique character.