Cementerio Santa Ifigenia

This central cemetery has very artistic mausoleums and sculptures. It is an open cemetery, and serves as a thoroughfare for residents of Santiago. Here you'll find the mausoleum of Jose Marti, national hero, politician, and philosopher. Creator of the revolutionary party, he is considered the founder of modern Cuba, and is regarded as the father of the nation. His mausoleum is protected by a guard of honour, and a changing of the guard ceremony takes place every half hour. The honour guards are chosen from conscripted men. They receive special training, especially in the martial parade, the Russian step, ie legs lifted to 90 degrees.