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cubatravel has been a member since February 27th 2014, and has created 33 posts from scratch.

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Capital Building in Havana | Capitolio Havana

Capitolio Havana Entrance

The Capitol Building is, without a doubt, one of the most distinguished buildings in Havana, not just due to its monumental character, but also to its singular features, which make it one of the most representative buildings of its type in the word. The eclectic style in which it is built is typical of the mixture of styles which characterises the peoples of the Caribbean region.

Even before the site had been properly cleaned up after its construction, the Capitol was an obligatory visit for all visitors to the island, and since then it has been customary for all tourists coming to Cuba to have their photo taken with the great building in the background as proof of their stay in Havana.

The monumental work which is the Capitol was built during the second half of the 1920s. The building was inaugurated on May the 20th, 1929 to commemorate the establishment of the republic in Cuba. The whole process took 3 years because the building was erected over the foundations of the former railways station “Villanueva”. It was conceived as the seat of the Congress and the Senate and the American company Purdy and Henderson fulfil the construction project.

The façade shows a prevailing of the neoclassical style while the inner decoration is mainly an opulent eclectic style but without loosing the balance. The 90 m. high dome is a visible from all the ends of the city. The bronzed statues standing at each side of the main entry were done by the Italian Angelo Zanelli and they represent the work and progress and the Tutelar Virtue of the Cuban people. The main entry has 3 doors as well as 3 were also the regions in which the island was divided, each one exhibit part of the Cuban history. From rightwards: the first one it’s devoted to the conquer period, the second one to the XIX century independence wars and the third one to the republics. The statue inside the Capitol was also made by Angelo Zanelli and represents the Republics. It’s the 3rd world highest statue under roof with 17.5 m high and 30 tons of weight, totally covered with golden sheets. It’s placed in the center of the main hall “The Room of Lost Steps” originally conceived for the official ceremonies. This 48 m long and 15 m wide hall it’s covered by different kinds of marble and at its center lays a replica of the 44 carats diamond that pointed the start of the Central Highway. Nowadays the building is the seat of the Science, Technology and Environment Ministry.

The ground floor, which contains most of the important art works in the building, is open to the public, and the rooms where Chambers carried out their work are now used for conventions. Restaurant and bar services are available to visitors in the loggias, who can pause there to rest during their tour of the city and the Capitol itself.

The other floors are occupied by the offices of the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment, whose mission includes the task of promoting and conserving this building and the heritage contained in it.

Capitolio Havana bronze statues

Hotel Sevilla Old Havana

Hotel Sevilla Old Havana

Founded in 1908 is a remarkable construction of the colonial architecture. Located in a privileged place in Old Havana, in front of the Paseo Promenade. Sumptuous and friendly you can respire a protector and traditional Spanish atmosphere, where abound decorative elements of mudejar style, brocade tiles decorated with flowers and geometric figures. Its halls still preserve the splendor of bygone eras ant it offers all the comforts of a Four Star Hotel.

Sevilla hotel was the first luxury hotel in Havana. On the top floor is an excellent restaurant that offers a unique view of the city that includes the entry port and toward the Capitol. In its rooms were hosted notable figures in Cuba and the world, among which stand out Jose Raul Capablanca, Tin Tan, Lola Flores, Josephine Baker, among others.

Description:

Distance to airport: 20 Kms. José Martí airport

Accommodation:

It has 178 rooms with their respective health services, bathtub and hairdryer, satellite TV free safe and minibar.

There is also one room with wheelchair access.

Restaurant Services:

It has two restaurants, one buffet and one a la carte, lobby bar, snack bar and bar.

Other facilities:

Gym and sauna, massage, boutiques, car rental, currency exchange, travel desk for excursions sales, laundry and dry cleaning, nursing. It also has a conference room with capacity for 40 people.

Old Havana hotel Reserve

Saratoga Hotel Old Havana

hotel saratoga Old havana

It is an elegant edification in eclectic style located in a centric place of Old Havana, right in front of The Capitol Building, The Fountain of the Indian Woman and The Partagas Cigar Factory. Gregorio Palacios Spanish merchant built it between 1879-80 and at that moment was one of the most important hotels in Havana. Apparently, Its name is a remembrance of a hot springs bathing housed in The United States.

Antonio Guiteras, ex former Secretary of Governing during the Grau San Martin government, was a frequent visitor of this place, perhaps by its proximity to The Capitol. In its terraces, Anacaona´s Band, the first Cuban women’ band made one’s first debut. The Saratoga Hotel was familiar and boarding house too. Today it’s preserve theirs original railings, carpentry, lattice work, marble´stairgs and square columns.

Description:

Distance to airport: 20 Kms. José Martí airport

Accommodations: It has 96 rooms, all with air conditioning, direct phone line and Internet access, satellite/ interactive TV, DVD, radio, safe, minibar, private bathroom, and hair dryer.

Services: swimming pool, spa, parking lot, tour desk, money exchange, car rental and taxis, laundry, lobby bar, snack bar, buffet restaurant, la carte restaurant, business center.

Old Havana hotel Reserve

Hotel Plaza Old Havana

Hotel Plaza Old Havana

The Plaza hotel rises majestically with its image, at the gates of Old Havana, as a key input to a World of history, culture and Cuban. Opened in 1909, was once the mansion of a wealthy family of the time, the Marquis of Pinar del Rio. Had with the passing of time its cozy atmosphere of eclectic style, with its original interior courtyard, where a figure of woman-in-Carrara marble welcomes visitors. Included in décor original paintings from the colonial era, painted by renowned artists.

Description:

Distance to airport: 20 Kms. José Martí Airport

Rooms: 188 rooms

Bares: 2. Bar Solarium y Lobby bar

Restaurants:

The hotel has 3 restaurants (international buffet, Italian and Cuban food). See other Cuban restaurants close by.

Internet: Internet service (24 hours)

Services: Solarium, medical services, Cuban souvenirs shops, art gallery, baby setter, parking lot, tour desk, money exchange, car rental and taxis. Conference room for 60 persons.

Brief history:

It’s one of the most antique Hotel situated in the epicenter of the Old Havana and represent a jewel of Cuban colonial architecture. William Fletcher, his own, inaugurated it in 1909, and for its construction was necessary to demolish the building that housed the Marina Newspaper. The antique and the modern go together which guarantee to visitor a good taste and exclusivity place.

A golden crown with its initials in the high of the principal door get to welcome to future residents to entry in a large salon whose floor was made in French mosaic manufactured by manual work. Immediately can be see an interior yard surrounded by stained glass of brilliant color with a beautiful fountain of Carrara marble, where a silent woman figure observe the visitors.

However the prestige of the Hotel is in the story of its guest, where to be outstanding the fabulous legend about the famous dancer Isadora Duncan whose spirit taking a walk for its large corridors. The list of illustrious personalities that were guests also include to the Russian dancer Ana Pavlova; Albert Einstein (who stayed one winter here to receive the homage of The Physical and Natural Sciences Academy of Cuba and The Cuban Geographical Society), José Raul Capablanca, who played his first championship of chess in the salon of this hotel; and Babe Ruth, the famous North American ball player. In the room where he stayed (Suite 216) a shrine for fans of the sport there is still a bat and baseball.

Old Havana hotel Reserve

Hotel Park View Old Havana

Hotel Park View Havana Cuba

Located in a privileged place of Havana, where the old part of the city join with the modernity, near of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Paseo del Prado and the former Presidential Palace (today Revolution Museum).

It was one of the first hotels that work with North American capital and had a good comfort for that time. Theirs first owners were the greek brothers Economics, who also possessed the Zaserac Coffe shop, situated behind the Inglaterra Hotel. In the forties, the Park View was distinguished itself by its North American style, modernity and economic prices. Many evidences indicate that the mafia and representatives of the cuban high middle class made use to this installation to do illicit business due to its relative anonymity.

With the pass of years and the loss of the importance to the Tourism Industry for Cuba, the edification was very damaged. In February 2002 the Habaguanex Company reopened these doors totally comfortable and modernized.

The Park View hotel was built in 1928. It reopened, with the turning of 21 st century, completely modernized and with a wonderful comfort. Its rooms have all the conditions for a pleasant rest after a long day in Havana. The Prado restaurant, in the 7th fllor, with a great view of the Havana bay, El Morro and La Cabaña fortresses, invites you to try delicious dishes from the Cuban and the international cuisine in a cozy space decorated with pictures of the Havana of yesterday.

The accommodation, with its intimate and quiet atmosphere, is distinguished by its careful service and its reasonable prices. This hotel is a pleasant place for the rest and the quietness of its visitors.

Description:

Distance to airport: 20 Kms José Martí Airport

Accommodation: 55 rooms. All with air conditioning, telephone, satellite TV, safe, private bathroom, minibar, hair dryer, laundry and dry cleaning.

Services: lobby bar, restaurant, tour desk, elevators, shops, Old Havana car rental and taxis, medical service, babysitter.

Old Havana hotel Reserve