The Mauri Family

The crocodile casa particular

Located at 518 Desengano or Bolivar street- the street to the left side of the Iglesia Parroquial de Santisima Trinidad, going away from the Plaza Mayor - The Crocodile house is also known as the Casa del Dominicano and dates back to the beginning of the 18th century. However, the house only became famous when it became the residence of Antonio Mauri Seballs who built his industrial empire at the end of the 19th century.
Today, this magnificent home with its many windows and columns, belongs to Mauri's granddaughter Lidice Zequera/Mauri Y Marquez. Her maternal grandfather was one of the richest Trinidadians who made his fortune as a tobacco grower and cigarette manufacturer.
A native of Barcelona, Antonio Mauri became rich at the end of the 19th century when he created the brand of cigarettes La Nueva Era. The family had its own orchestra that performed at balls and festivals in the region of Sancti Spiritus, and private factory cars in which he drove his clients around… A very rich man indeed!
But then came the revolution. Of all the beautiful homes that belonged to the family, this unique house is the only one left. Its wonderful furnishings are deteriorating with time and Lidice is trying to keep their memory alive. The cigar machine that was in the patriarchs factory located on Calle de La Boca was taken apart in 1959 and put back together in the factory where Popular cigars are manufactured...
Without the necessary funds to maintain this heritage, Lidice and her husband Renendo, a native of the Canary Islands, have opened their home to tourists.