Page 77 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

Havana ❮❮ 75

Capitolio
8 LA HABANA VIEJA WALK
The nation’s grandiose for mer
congressional building was inaug­ Catedral Plaza de la Castillo de la
urated in 1929 and incor porates Art Catedral Real Fuerza
Deco elements into a Neo­Classical La Bodeguita Plaza de
design that closely resembles del Medio Armas
Wash ington D. C.’s Capitol. It is Palacio de los
undergoing a lengthy restoration Capitanes
Generales
and will host the National Assembly. Basílica Menor
Visitors approach via a steep flight of La Imprenta de San Francisco
de Asís
stairs flanked by Neo­Classical bronze
figures. Behind the central portico Factoria
with its 12 granite columns are three Plaza Plaza Vieja
Vieja
bronze doors with bas­reliefs of
major events of Cuban history. A MORNING
huge Statue of the Republic stands
at the entrance hall, which After breakfast, head to Plaza de
features a fake 25­carat la Catedral (see p12), the most
diamond embedded in intimate of the city’s colonial
plazas. Peek inside the Catedral
the floor (see p14). de La Habana and then stop for
a drink at Ernest Hemingway’s
favorite haunt, La Bodeguita del
Medio (see p78). Admire the locals
in their colonial dresses before
strolling along Calle San Ignacio,
with its art galleries. Then turn
left on Calle O’Reilly and walk two
blocks south to Plaza de Armas
(see p13). Move around the square
in a clockwise direction, stopping
to admire the Castillo de la Real
The grand Capitolio building Fuerza (see p47). On the park’s
eastern side, explore the Palacio
Parque Central
9 de los Capitanes Gener ales (see
p12), before exiting the square
An epicenter of social life in
Havana, this palm­shaded square along Calle Oficios. Take your
time to admire the 18th­century
has a statue of José Martí (see p42) buildings here.
and is surrounded by monumental
19th­ and 20th­century buildings. AFTERNOON
These include the Neo­Classical
Hotel Plaza and the spec tacular Stop for refreshments at La
Gran Teatro (see p77). Imprenta, a stylish restaurant
on cobbled Calle Mercaderes.
Museo de la Revolución
0 Revived, continue southeast to
visit the Basilica Menor de San
Housed in the former presi­
Francisco de Asís, where you can
den tial palace once occupied by scale the bell tower for great
General Batista, this museum (see views over the harbor and La
p13) is a tribute to the Revolution, Habana Vieja. Then walk toward
from the guerrilla war to the current Plaza Vieja (see p73), where high­
lights include the Museo de
day. The ornate, domed building, Naipes and the Cámara Oscura, a
built in 1920, is as fascinating as the rooftop optical reflec tion camera
collection, and includes the Salón de that offers a magnified view of life
los Espejos, a hall lined with mirrors. from the top of Havana. End your
At the rear is the Granma Memorial day with a meal and chilled beer
(see p38), featuring the yacht Granma at Factoria Plaza Vieja, a brewpub
as well as aircrafts and vehicles used on the plaza.
in the Bay of Pigs invasion (see p37).
See map on pp72–3
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