With a rich
and fascinating history, Havana's sightseeing is centred around its varied
architecture, with everything from museums and churches to colonial forts and
elaborate city squares. With friendly and colourful people juxtaposed by
elegantly dilapidated buildings and occasionally derelict streets, there's
nothing quite like Havana.
Just
breathing in the scents and watching the vintage cars roll down the streets
makes for a great day of sightseeing, but head into the historic old town, La
Habana Vieja, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to explore the magnificent
colonial architecture. Take in the sights and sounds as you stroll down the
Calle Obispo as this pedestrian boulevard takes you through the streets, past
the Parque Central and to some of the more hidden away gems of the La Habana
Vieja. You can get the best view of Havana from the Camera Obscura, which
provides a 360-degree look from atop the Plaza Vieja.
Havana is
special for visitors simply because there are none of the tacky tourist
developments that have overrun other destinations. That said, you'll find
plenty of places claiming to be significant to Ernest Hemingway, but few are.
You can visit the Ernest Hemingway Museum on the outskirts of town, set in his
old residence.
Visit the
cigar factories and rum distilleries to sample some of these world famous
exports, visit the Plaza de la Revolución where political figures such as Fidel
Castro have addressed the crowds and peruse the Museo de la Revolución - a must
for all history buffs. And after a long day of sightseeing in the city, head to
the nearby beaches, most of which are located no more than 20 minutes away, to
soak up some Caribbean sun and sip on a rum cocktail.
Places of
Attractions in Havana
Capitolio Nacional
One of
Havana's grandest pieces of architecture, the Capitolio is an important
landmark and one of Centro Habana's major touristic sights. It was designed to
resemble the US Capitol in Washington DC, and the similarity is obvious. A
monumental stone stairway leads to the vast domed hall, from where tours will
take visitors beyond the doors to elaborately decorated chambers that once
housed the seat of Cuban Congress.
Today, it is
home to the National Library and Academy of Sciences, and many of its rooms are
still used for state events. It also houses a planetarium and a museum. Directly
beneath the dome lies an imitation 24-carat diamond set into the marble floor,
from where all highway distances between Havana and all sites in Cuba are
measured.
The building
is today a bit rundown and the inside is often closed for renovations. Even so
the outside makes a great photo spot. The area is a hot spot for vendors,
artists and beggars which can make it interesting but be sure to watch your
belongings carefully.
Cigar Factories
Even
non-smokers have to agree that a visit to Cuba would not be complete without
investigating the island's most famous export, cigars. The art of cigar-making
in Cuba is old and traditional, and three main factories in Havana offer tours
for visitors to see cigars still rolled by hand.
In the
oldest factory, Partagas, founded in 1827, traditionally a reader is employed
to keep workers entertained while they fashion the famous cigars. Apparently
this is the reason some of the famous cigars are named after literary
characters. Tours leave every 20-30 minutes, depending on what language you
want to be guided in. The tour lasts about 45 minutes.
Havana's
other cigar factories are La Corona and the lesser-visited Romeo y Julieta.
There are shops attached to the factories where cigars can be purchased.
Visitors are advised not to buy cigars from people off the street, as these are
usually rolled banana leaves fashioned into cigar look-alikes and the sellers
are persistent hustlers. Los Cohiba Esplendidos are supposed to be the best
cigars in Cuba, formerly only available to Fidel Castro.
El Malécon
A five-mile (8km) esplanade, roadway and
seawall, running between the harbour in Old Havana and the historically Russian
area of Vedado, El Malécon is the perfect place to start any Havana adventure.
The two-hour
walk, described by many as a cross-section of Cuba's history, begins in Habana
Vieja, where the buildings have had their famous pastel colours faded by the
sun and the salty sea-wind, and goes past various monuments to significant
figures in Cuba's struggle history (including Máximo Gomez and Calixto GarcÃa),
before ending up in the area of Verdado, a funky downtown district with great
sights and vibrant nightlife.
Walking El
Malecon one bears witness to the strange disparity in Cuba between the wealthy
tourist hotels and the rundown local joints. Construction of the walkway began
in 1901 and its main purpose was to protect the city from the sea but today it
is a very popular social haunt.
It is very
different to do the walk during the day and at night; perhaps the best way is
to begin in the afternoon sun so that you can see the colours of the city, and
finish in the evening when the lights come on. Celebrated by locals and
tourists alike as the best way to gain an insight into the soul of Havana,
travellers are strongly advised to begin their Cuban holiday with a walk along
El Malécon.
Ernest Hemingway Museum
Ernest Hemingway may be an American by birth,
but Cubans have adopted this rambunctious writer/adventurer as their own -
especially in Havana, where you'll find memorials to his apartments, regular
haunts, and even favourite drink. Hemingway was a keen fisherman (and a keen
drinker) and the bars and harbour in Cuba are full of references to him and his
escapades.
Finca Vigia,
his home just outside Havana, has been restored and now functions as a museum
to the famous author. The residence is kept as it was when he lived there, and
visitors can see his typewriter and library of over 8,000 books. It was in this
house that Hemingway wrote two of his most famous books, For Whom the Bell
Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea (for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize for
Literature).
Walking
around the house feels very personal and informal which makes it a special
experience for fans of Hemingway. The museum has been known to close often for
renovations so try to ensure that it is open for visitors before setting off.
Although, a walk around the house and area may prove sufficiently exciting for
many.
Habana Vieja (Old Havana)
.png "Habana Vieja (Old Havana)")
Old Havana
(Habana Vieja) is a very special attraction in Cuba which delights travellers
and locals alike. This historic section of Cuba's capital was founded in 1519
and for centuries was an important naval port of colonial Spain. Being in such
a strategic position, the city was targeted by pirates and fought over on
numerous occasions, and the ruins of the defensive walls that surrounded the
city can still be seen.
During the
years of Prohibition in the United States, Habana Vieja turned into a
playground for Americans who flocked here for the cheap liquor, gambling,
prostitution and flamboyant lifestyle. One of the district's most famous bars
is La Bodeguita Del Medio, which was the favoured haunt of legendary US writer,
Ernest Hemingway.
The Old City
now also contains museums, hotels, restaurants and shops lining the original
cobble-stoned streets. Surrounding the picturesque squares (plazas) are
beautiful restored colonial buildings with grand facades, and striking churches
that form a magnificent setting for the late afternoon chess and domino games
and salsa music. Plaza de Armas was the seat of power in Cuba for 400 years,
from where the Spanish Captain's General, US military governors and Cuban
president were based, and today is home to an interesting book market.
Museo de la Ciudad (Museum of the
City)
.png "Museo de la Ciudad (Museum of the City)")
Built in
1791, the stately Baroque residence of Cuba's colonial governors and former
Presidential Palace, the Palace of the Captains General stands as an impressive
sight on the Plaza de Armas and is now the repository for the city's museum
collections. The building itself is truly wonderful, with a central courtyard
containing a white marble statue of Christopher Columbus. It has been
beautifully restored and in itself justifies the entrance fee.
The museum's
displays and exhibits tell the tale of Havana, from its founding to the present
day, including rooms devoted to the Cuban wars for national independence. The
colourful Hall of Flags contains the original Cuban flag, as well as a number
of others used by the Spanish colonial government. There are also exhibits
relating to archaeology, folklore and weaponry, and an art collection that
includes porcelain, paintings and furniture of historic value and great beauty.
The
treasures are varied and interesting but a guided tour does help supplement the
labels, which are not comprehensive. Visitors should not that there have been
reports of the museum attendants trying to hustle tourists out of money by
offering to take photos for them, so be aware that they may approach you.
Museo de la Revolución
Formerly the
Presidential Palace and headquarters of the Cuban government, the impressive
building now houses documents, photographs and artefacts pertaining to the
Cuban Revolution (there are even blood-stained and bullet-riddled uniforms on
display!), and provides an excellent introduction to, and understanding of,
Cuba's history and its struggle for independence.
Prepare to
spend a few hours wandering from room to room as the story unfolds, from
Spanish colonial times to the present day. In front of the museum entrance
stands a watchtower that was part of the old city walls, as well as a tank used
by Fidel Castro during the battle of the Bay of Pigs in 1961. Behind the museum
is the glass-encased yacht, the 'Granma', which brought 82 revolutionaries,
including Che Guevara and Fidel Castro, from Mexico to set the 1956 Revolution
in motion.
The
anti-imperialist tone of the museum will delight some and possibly upset others
but for history buffs and those interested in the revolution this museum is a
treasure trove. Make sure to get the correct change at the museum counter as
there have been reports of minor money scams.
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
The Bellas
Artes Museum was founded in 1913 and is now split into two buildings, both
architecturally interesting and impressive, housing International and Cuban art
respectively. Both fine art collections are worthy of detailed exploration and
should delight any visitor interested in art.
The
Colección de Arte Universal covers everything from ancient Greek artefacts and
Latin American pieces to art by French, Dutch and Italian painters, and includes
work by masters such as Gainsborough, Goya and Rubens. The Colección de Arte
Cubano is also outstanding and covers works from the 16th to the 20th centuries
by prominent Cuban artists.
The Cuban
galleries have rooms dedicated to religion, landscape, portraits and scenes
from Cuban life. Of course, the hyperrealism of the revolution and
post-revolution years is also prominent and this has probably become the style
of art most associated with modern Cuba. Famous paintings in the contemporary
section include Gitana Tropical by Victor Manuel Garcia (the 'Cuban Mona Lisa')
and El Rapto de las Mulatas by Carlos Enriquez.
Plaza de la Revolución
The Plaza de
la Revolucion is a famous attraction in Havana. The gigantic square, which is
dominated by the
imposing José Martà Memorial, has provided the setting for
numerous political rallies, and the podium in front of the memorial is where
important political figures, like Fidel Castro, have addressed more than a
million Cubans on important occasions, such as 1 May and 26 July each year.
At the foot
of the memorial is a museum dedicated to José MartÃ, a national hero who would
most likely have become Cuba's first president had he survived the Second War
of Independence in 1895. It is possible to take the elevator to the top of the
138-foot (42m) memorial, the highest structure in the city, to see some great
views of Havana and get some photographs. Located behind the memorial are the
closely guarded offices of Castro.
Opposite the
memorial, on the far side of the square, is the much-photographed Che Guevara
image with the slogan Hasta la Victoria Siempre (Forever Onwards Towards
Victory), that identifies the Ministry of the Interior building. The square is
worth a visit if for no other reason than the important role it has played in
Cuban history.
About PRABISH BISHUNGKHE
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