Havana -The Granma Memorial was officially reopened Thursday in Havana, after being subjected to a comprehensive restoration to mark the 60th anniversary of the arrival in eastern Cuba of the expeditionaries, with Fidel Castro at the head, to start the last phase of the struggle for national independence.

A new lighting system offers greater splendor, a better image and perception of the historic yacht, said Zoraida González Albelo, head of the Department of Cultural Services at the Revolution Museum, according to Granma newspaper.

He added that restitution works included hydraulic networks, air conditioning system, gardening, the setting in general, and the paving of its inner street.

Each exhibition piece underwent a substantial change, with an attractive museography, which has completely renewed the installation according to the specialist of the Museum of the Revolution, through which Granma Memorial is accessed.  González said that although it was officially reopened Thursday, since the beginning of December, Cuban and foreign visitors have been visiting at the rate of more than 500 people daily.

The Granma Memorial, in front of the former Presidential Palace, now the Museum of the Revolution, was inaugurated on December 1, 1976.  The Memorial hosts valuable historical pieces related to the war of liberation and the subsequent battles of the Cuban people in defense of their sovereignty and independence.

The tour of its areas ends at the Monument to the Eternal Heroes of the New Homeland, whose perennial flame was lit by the leader of the Cuban Revolution on April 19, 1989.