Page 89 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

CENTRO HABANA AND PR ADO  87

Essler, who made 1918, and the pianist Arthur
her debut here in Rubinstein the following year.
1841. In the mid- Cuban composer Ernesto
19th century Lecuona and the great Spanish
Antonio Meucci, guitarist Andrés Segovia have
the inven tor of the also appeared.
“talking telephone”, In 1959 the Gran Teatro, though
worked here as a continuing as a concert hall and
stage hand, and theatre, became the “home” of
his inven tion Alicia Alonso, the great Cuban
was paten ted ballet dancer. She founded the
in the US, thanks Ballet Nacional de Cuba, the
Façade of the former Centro Gallego building, now home to the sup port of dance company responsible for
to the Gran Teatro the Gran Teatro’s organ izing the famous Festival
impresario. Internacional de Ballet de la
the foundations of the Teatro The theatre was inaugurated Habana (see p40 and p129).
Nuevo or Tacón. From 1837 to on 22 April 1915 with a perfor- After two years of meticulous
the early 20th century this was mance of Verdi’s Aida, and renovation the theatre reopened
the venue for performances by became a stage for great in 2016 and now looks particularly
world-famous artists, including dramatic occasions. Sarah magnificent at night when the
the Austrian ballet dancer Fanny Bernhardt performed here in exterior is majestically illuminated.

. Dome
Almost 92 m (300 ft) VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
high, the dome
was the highest Practical Information
point in the city Paseo de Martí (Prado), esq. a San
until the 1950s. José. Map 4 D3. Tel 7864 9168.
Closed for restoration. & 8 =
Note: fee for photography applies.
Parliament

. Salón de los Pasos Perdidos
This sumptuous hall, with fine
marble floors and gilded lamps,
takes its name (“Hall of Lost Steps”)
from its unusual acoustics.

A copy of a 25-carat
diamond is embedded Statue of the Republic
in the floor beneath the dome. This work, cast in Rome and
The original belonged to the last Tsar covered with 22-carat gold leaf,
of Russia and was sold to the Cuban state by a stands 17 m (56 ft) high and
Turkish jeweller. It was stolen and, mysteriously, weighs 49 tons. It is the third
later turned up on the President’s desk. tallest statue in the world.

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