Casa Museo de la Barberia

When in 1999 Gilberto Valladares Reina, known in his Santo Ángel neighborhood as Papito, started a project he called Cortearte, be sure, there were very few people in Havana that could fully understand the scope of his undertaking. Almost 17 years later, reality speaks for itself. In an area that takes up around 100 meters in Old Havana, life has taken on a completely different dynamic that has surprised even his neighbors. Energy plus creativity gives birth to enterprise and this enterprise which is based on lots of hard work does not only net profits, it comes accompanied by improvements to the human condition. This project reaffirms the historically social importance occupied by hairdressers and hairdressing salons in Cuba. The Museum's walls are turned into a fascinating gallery with allegorical drawings depicting the art of cutting and looking after hair.