Santiago de Cuba’s Trova House

This city, the birthplace of so many musical genres, has trova as one of the loyal representatives of our identity. Outstanding songwriter and guitarist José (Pepe) Sánchez, (1856-1918), shared this feeling with his fellow dwellers.

Click on Santiago de Cuba: A City of 500 Years

Subsequently, they became ambassadors of our national culture by means of their musical work. That’s the case of Rosendo Ruiz, Alberto Villalón, Salvador Adams, José Banderas, Ñico Saquito, Sindo Garay, Emiliano Blez and other important troubadours.

Right in this eastern city, that singing style accompanied by guitar motivated the creation of hard-to-play songs, by applying counterpoint techniques with different vocal difficulties. Those songs were publically put out at the most visited place in town:

THE TROVA HOUSE

The history of its creation dates back to late 1940s, when cigar maker and music-enthusiast Virgilio Palais opened a canteen to sell traditional drinks, cold meats, at Callejón de Virgilio, the former house of eminent musician Rafael Salcedo de las Cuevas (1844-1917).

The small property welcomed friends of the owner, coming from neighborhoods El Tivolí and Los Hoyos, with deep-rooted trova traditions, who accompanied Virgilio to share their music with visitors.

The first Trova House of Cuba was inaugurated on March 19, 1968, right where Virgilio had his business, with new spaces to house musicians and the audience. The Grand Hall was opened years later on the higher floor and contributed to spread this music.

The Trova House is the heart of Festivals that are annually held on March 15 - 19.

This institution has been visited by numerous artists and figures, such as Víctor Jara, a Chilean singer-songwriter that gave a concert with Pucho El Pollero, a remarkable Santiago-born troubadour.

Also on the visitors list: Simón Díaz, a prestigious Venezuelan composer and singer; Gabriel García Márquez, Literature Nobel winner; Martha Rojas, a famous journalist; 0scar de León, Nicolás Guillén, our national poet; Leo Brouwer, Mario Benedetti, Harry Belafonte.

Former Beatle Paul McCartney recently visited Santiago de Cuba, since he was aware of the cultural richness of this city, and took his children to the Trova House.

Cuban artists that have traveled around the world, representing our musical treasure, have also performed in this legendary place: Eliades 0choa, Francisco Repilado "Compay Segundo", Ibrahím Ferrer, Omara Portuondo, Elena Burke.

DESCRIPCION OF SERVICES PROVIDED & HOURS

Main hall. Activities 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. with soloists and groups playing traditional music. Tuesday – Sunday.

Bar service in collaboration with another space of the entity that offers both live and recorded Cuban music, "El Patio de Virgilio", Tuesday – Sunday 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and, from 8:30 p.m. through the early morning nocturnal people can enjoy fine music and drink at the trova bar: Daiquirí, the world-famous Cuban mojito created by writer Ernest Hemingway, Collin Rum, Cuba Libre, and many other that will certainly please national and international visitors, as well as international drinks.