Marta Abreu de Estévez (13 November 1845 – 2 January 1909) was one of the most influential figures of her time in central Cuba

Cuba

The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...

, especially in her birth city and province of Santa Clara

Santa Clara, Cuba

Santa Clara is the capital city of the Cuban province of Villa Clara. It is located in the most central region of the province and almost in the most central region of the country.- History :Santa Clara was founded by 175 people on July 15th, 1689...

. For her constant aid to the poor, her donations to the city and the independent war, she won the title of “the great benefactor”.

Her wealth enabled Marta Abreu to travel Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

 and the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 from a very young age which brought her into contact with key figures of her time and allowed her to appreciate the differences between most developed countries and her own, and how difficult Cubans had it, specially in small hinterland cities and towns. She married Luis Estévez y Romero, a lawyer from Havana

Havana

Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...

 who was also kin of the independence cause and helper of the poor; in time this allowed Marta to fulfill her philanthropic dreams. She died at her home in Paris

Paris

Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

.

Marta is recognized in Cuba as the precursor of Social Services; she greatly loved her city and because of this love today we can appreciate her work in still standing structures all over. But is without doubts more important the huge amounts of money she also donated to every kind of causes; social, civic, artistic, catholic and the indecency against Spanish Colonialism. She donated to this cause only and elevated sum of 240,000 pesos that we know of. In today currency we are speaking about millions of dollars.

Marta today

Nowadays Marta's reputation has been eclipsed by that of another important revolutionary iconic figure: Ernesto Che Guevara. Santa Clara once literally known as “the city of Marta” was changed to “the city of Che” when in 90's the arrival of the remains of Che and his companions were discovered in Bolivia

Bolivia

Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...

 and brought back to Cuba. Che and his rebel mates were on display inside the public library of the city “Biblioteca Marti” ironically Marta Abreu’s former house and one of her many donations to the city. Once the remains found definitive place on the famous Che Monument local authorities decided to change the motto of the city. Soon after this became a point of discussion with the locals, who love Che but are also loyal to the history of Marta and her city.

Her legacy

• Teatro La Caridad
  Teatro La Caridad
  Teatro de La Caridad or Teatro La Caridad in Santa Clara is one of the few remaining colonial theatres in Cuba. It is a National Monument of Cuba....
  
  (Caridad Theater) which she built and donated to the city in order to collect money for further donations.
• Santa Clara public library “Marti” her former palace, given away as city hall, today the city’s public library.
• Asilo de Ancianos (Old people’s Home) for the elder care.
• Asilo San Vicente de Paul Asylum San Vicente de Paúl for the poor and homeless.
• El Amparo (The Shelter) another shelter for poor people.
• El Gran Cervantes (The Great Cervantes) school for black children.
• Buen Viaje school.
• San Pedro Nolasco school.
• Santa Rosalía school.
• Santa Clara weather station which she donated with all the instruments and scientific material.
• Santa Clara Firemen quarters.
• Santa Clara electrical power plant.
• Santa Clara Train Station.
• Villa Clara province gas factory.
• Three public laundry stations by the Belico river.

Remembering Marta

• Santa Clara's University was named after her.
• A beautiful bronze statue of Marta on a chair seats in Parque Vidal.
• A room named and dedicated to her can be seen in “Casa de la Ciudad” house-museum and art gallery.
• 1947 Cuba published 4 Stamps for the centenary of her birth (1845)