You'll find artesanía (handicrafts) stands set up on Plaza San Juan de Dios Friday through Sunday. Another spot for handicrafts is Centro/Galería ACAA (Asociación Cubana de Artesanos Artistas), just off the Plaza de los Trabajadores at Calle Padre Valencia 2 (tel. 32/28-6834), which features exhibits and sales, including clay and ceramics, with artisans working out back.
If you want to visit an artist's studio, we highly recommend the work of the amiable husband-wife team Joel Jover and Ileana Sánchez. Their home studio is Calle Martí 154, on the north side of Parque Agramonte (tel. 32/29-2305; jover@pprincipe.cult.cu). They also have a gallery on Plaza San Juan de Dios[finds]. Another well-known and very welcoming artist is Oscar Rodríguez Lasseria, a talented ceramicist whose studio is on Calle Luis A Varona (Vista) 420, between Alfredo Adán and 25 de Julio (tel. 32/28-1400 or 32/28-6909; lasseri@pprincipe.cult.cu), a bit removed from the centro in La Vigía district. Oscar conducts invitational seminars with ceramics artists from around the world. Note: If you purchase any artworks in Camagüey, you'll need to take them to the Registro de Bienes Culturales (tel. 32/29-1388) to get official permission and documentation to export them from Cuba. The local office is situated on the second floor of the old hospital on Plaza San Juan de Dios; it's open Monday through Saturday from 8:30am to 1pm; fees vary.
Check out the Casa del Tabaco in the Galería Colonial, Ignacio Agramonte 406 (tel. 32/28-3944), for a fine selection of Cuban cigars. The gentleman in the shop is very willing to educate customers about the fine art of Cuban tobacco. He'll tell you that Fidel used to smoke a Cohiba Lancero (which goes for about CUC$350/US$378/£189 a box).
Pick up CDs and tapes of Cuban music at any ARTex shop. Perhaps the best one is within the Casa de la Trova, on Calle Cisneros (tel. 32/29-1357). Other branches are on República 38 and Ignacio Agramonte 109. Those interested in Cuban memorabilia, stamps, and coins should drop in at Ignacio Agramonte 433 between Lopez Recio and Independencia.
