Cuba Guide
Varadero and Matanzas
Arts and crafts
1 Arte Cubano Ave. 1ra esq. Calle 12 Smaller version of the Fondo de Bienes Culturales, where artistic Afro-Cuban wood carvings and tacky Che Guevara place mats sit side by side.
2 Arte Sol y Mar Ave. 1ra e/ 34 y 35 Small but usually pleasing exhibitions of paintings and photographs by artists from all over Cuba. Everything is for sale and there's usually enough soulful work amongst the unimaginative landscapes to balance things out. There's often a small craft market out front.
3 La Casa Ave. 1ra esq. 59 The upstairs floor of this shop has a good selection of distinctive Cuban film art posters as well as other original poster prints, paintings and pictures.
4 Fondo de Bienes Culturales Ave. 1ra e/ 15 y 16 Varadero's best and biggest craft market consists of over 30 stalls around a little roadside square. Here you'll find all the trademark Cuban crafts, textiles and gift items, like wooden statuettes, lace shawls, coral necklaces, cigar boxes and Che T-shirts as well as bags and ceramics.
5 Fería Los Caneyes Ave. 1ra e/ 51 y 52 Around twenty stalls with a good selection of wooden hand-carved ornaments and all the usual Cuban-market arts and crafts.
6 Taller de Cerámica Ave. 1ra e/ 59 y 60 You can watch pottery being made in the busy workshop and then buy a piece in the good-quality little shop where everything for sale is an original and not the usual tourist tack.