Right near the Angel Castro House Museum and Interpretation Center of Galician Emigration in Lancara, the ceremony took place, as detailed to Prensa Latina by the Cuban Consul General in that Spanish region, Ingrid Izquierdo.

The tribute also included the 150th anniversary of Angel Castro, Fidel’s father, and included the planting of an oak tree, the ancient national tree of Galicia, which represents a symbolic and historical value of strength and resilience, according to Antonio Sobrado, president of the Lancara-Cuba Friendship Association.

In his speech, the Cuban ambassador to Spain, Marcelino Medina, noted that August 13th also commemorates the 20th anniversary of Raul Castro’s visit to this land, preceded years earlier by Fidel himself, in what could be considered, paraphrasing Carpentier, “a long-awaited journey to the seed.”

The diplomat also remembered Carlos Lopez Sierra, “tireless caretaker of this house for decades, and driving force behind the initiative to convert it into a museum; his memory will always be present when the ties between Lancara and our island are discussed.”

We would especially like to thank the Lancara-Cuba Friendship Association for organizing this event, which is a continuation of the actions carried out by this House Museum to disseminate Fidel’s thoughts and contribute to strengthening the bonds of friendship between our peoples, he noted.

Medina praised the friendship groups and Cubans residing in Europe who, last year in Madrid, agreed to promote actions and initiatives related to Fidel, a commitment that led to the emergence of the project “Martí Illuminates Fidel’s One Hundred Years.”

From Galicia; from Lancara, the land that imbued relations between the Cuban and Galician peoples with a very special meaning, we in Spain proclaim the launch of the Centennial Year of Fidel’s Birth, which will culminate on November 25, 2026, the 10th anniversary of his passing, Medina announced.

jdt/jha/ft