Today, many lovers visit the La Periquera Provincial Museum, in the heart of Holguin. Asking about the legend of two lovers who lie embraced in its tunnels, united even in death.
The story, deeply rooted in the city’s memory. It dates back to the time when the building served as the seat of the provincial government under Don Agustín Peláez. Who appeared arm in arm with his young wife, Ana Sánchez Roblejo de Peláez.
The stories, captured in paintings and works of art. Recount that in the mornings Ana would appear on the balcony to contemplate the Plaza de Armas and grace the passing volunteer corps with her beauty. It was then that she met the officer Serafín Irioste.
Every day she returned to the balcony. Engaged in a silent dialogue from the top of the building. At night she attended mass at the Church of San José, where the parish priest was a close friend and the family’s spiritual guide.
There she would linger for hours by candlelight. Actually escaping through a small staircase that led to an underground corridor connecting the city.
Also the large tunnel served as a cistern for the churches of San José and San Isidoro, the Spanish Army Barracks, and finally linked to Loma de la Cruz. Creating an underground passage of more than a kilometer through the town hall, where Ana and Serafín found their refuge.
The lovers met there, according to oral tradition, and consecrated their romance beneath the floors of the town itself. Until one night a fire alarm shook the town and the floodgates were opened to divert the waters of the Marañón River.
Also the alarm turned out to be false, but when the cistern entrances were opened. The Spanish soldiers led by Don Agustín found the bodies of Ana and Serafín, lifeless, locked in an embrace.
Some theories suggest the alarm was a trap set by someone who suspected the affair and decided to punish the betrayal. Others claim it was simply a misfortune that brought the story to a tragic end.
Serafín was buried with honors as a Spanish soldier. While Ana was buried on the slopes of La Loma de la Cruz. Cruelly close to the entrance of the passageway. With a tombstone that read: “To Doña Ana Sánchez Roblejo, who could have died in her bed, full of virtues, but died without honor, in the La Periquera tunnel.”
Marlene Martínez Pupo, a historian and museologist with over two decades of experience at the Museum. She told the Cuban News Agency that, although the myth persists in popular memory. There is no conclusive proof that it ever happened. Even though it is passed down from generation to generation.
In 1980, a national archaeological team excavated the spot indicated by tradition, but only found a small, water-filled basement, suggesting that the gallery beneath La Periquera. Either never existed or disappeared during the city’s paving projects in the early decades of the 20th century.
Despite this, every year residents of Holguin and visitors come to the museum asking about the romantic legend of the tunnels, the specialist affirms.
Locals say that laughter and voices of love can still be heard when someone looks out from La Periquera. Sometimes the silhouette of Doña Ana can be seen on the balcony, searching for Officer Serafín.
With information from María Karla Lam González/Cuban News Agency
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