Page 75 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

LA HABANA VIE JA  73

the Columna de Cacigal, a centuries). Today, the
column named after the buildings are occupied
governor who ordered its by a number of shops,
construction in 1754. hotels and restaurants.
El Templete, completed in The street is split in
1828, was modelled after a two by the Plaza de San
monument in the Basque town Francisco. North of the
of Guernica in northern Spain. plaza is No. 16, the
Inside are three enormous 18th-century Casa de
canvases by Jean-Baptiste los Arabes. It displays
Vermay (see p30), depicting 18th- and 19th- century
scenes from the history of Hispanic-Arab bronzes,
Havana: the local authorities fabrics, rugs and furniture:
inaugurating the building, the the largest ethnographic
first cabildo, and the first mass, display of Arab objects
which was celebrated by Bishop in Cuba, evidence of
Juan José Díaz Espada y Land, the presence of an old
who blessed the city as part of Lebanese, Syrian and
the ceremony. Palestinian colony on
the island. The building The Casa de los Arabes patio, with narrow balconies
also houses the only and a Moorish-style fountain
mosque in Cuba. The small
prayer hall is beautifully inlaid closely at the plush reception,
with mother-of-pearl. dining rooms and lounge, with
South of Plaza de San their dark wood panelling, and
Francisco, tucked away down the neatly fitted bedroom
Calle Churruca, is the Coche and kitchen.
Mambí, a handsome green-
and-white train coach dating E Casa de los Arabes
from 1900. For several decades Tel 7861 5868. Open 9am–5pm
from 1912, it was the official Tue–Sat, 9am–1pm Sun.
railroad accommodation for E Coche Mambí
successive presidents of Cuba. Open 9:30am–5:30pm Tue–Sat,
Visitors can step inside to look 9:30am–1pm Sun. &
Havana’s Indoor Arts Market
The Almacenes San
The First Mass, one of Vermay’s paintings in José, a vast crafts
the Templete market, opened in
2009 as part of the
revitaliza tion of the
7 Calle Oficios harbour area of Old
Havana. In a restored
Map 4 F2. warehouse just south
of the cruise-ship
This is one of the capital’s oldest docks, the Almacenes
streets, branching out from the San José is a one-stop
city’s roots in the Plaza de shopping centre for
Armas, and is among only four handmade Cuban arts
Havana streets in existence and crafts. The space is
from the end of the 16th enormous, and the
century. It was originally a number of stalls can
link between the military seem over whelming,
centre of Plaza de Armas and but it’s a useful place
the commercial and harbour to pick up souvenirs.
activities centred around Plaza Search around and
San Francisco. Together with there are some gems
Calle Obispo, this is one of the to be had, and most
most atmospheric streets in stall holders are not Paintings of classic cars and Che Guevara for sale at
Old Havana and should be averse to bartering. The the craft market, Almacenes San José
second-hand book and
toured slowly (don’t miss the curio market that sprung up in Plaza de Armas during the 1990s is
many interesting façades expected to move to the upper floor. The vast beer hall and restaurant,
which predominantly date the Antiguo Almacén de la Madera y el Tabaco, is next door.
from the 18th and 19th

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