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Escuela Nacional de Ballet

General sightseeing

CA Ranking: 3

Open: Closed Sat-Sun, visits arranged through CENEARTE

Paseo de Martí (Prado) 207 entre Trocadero y Colón

This is the biggest ballet school in the world and the most prestigious one in Cuba, with approximately 3,000 students. The school goes back to 1931 with the creation of the Escuela Nacional de Ballet de la Sociedad de Arte Musical, where Cuba’s most prestigious ballet dancer, Alicia Alonso, trained as a ballerina. The present 20th-century mansion has been home to the national ballet school since 2000 after extensive restoration and adaptations to fit the needs of the school. Outstanding are the two monumental staircases that lead to the beautifully decorated upper floors.

Parque Lenin LH 4

Approximately 25 kilometers south of Havana is Parque Lenin, inaugurated on April 22, 1972 by Fidel Castro on the initiative of Celia Sánchez. The huge bust of Lenin, carved in 1982 by Soviet sculptor …

Post 1959Open: 9am-5:30pm Wed-Sun except Jul-Aug 9am-5:30pm Tue-Sun100, esquina Cortina de la Presa

Parroquia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús (Parroquia del Vedado) LH 3

Built in 1892, this is Vedado’s oldest church; and is mostly known by its celebration of Corpus Christi in May, in addition to many other Catholic festivities. The wooden altar, pulpit and stained-gla …

OtherOpen: 9am-5pm dailyLínea entre C y D

Museo del Chocolate LH 3

Although calling this place a museum is an overstatement, there are some intriguing artefacts relating to the history of chocolate production in Cuba. More appropriate would be to call it Café Fábrica …

Admission: FreeOpen: 10am-7:30pm dailyMercaderes esq. a Amargura, Habana Vieja

Castillo de San Salvador de la Punta LH 3

Given its strategic location on one side of the harbor mouth, this fortress was one of the two most important defensive constructions in Havana’s defense system in colonial times. Construction works t …

RenaissanceAdmission: CUC 5; free under-12sOpen: 10am-6pm Wed-SunAvenida del Puerto y Paseo de Martí (Prado)

Oratorio de San Felipe Neri LH 3

Originally a small church built in 1693, it was acquired two centuries later by a bank. The building was eventually returned to the city as a concert hall where lyric theater and song is performed. It …

Admission: CUC 2Open: 7pmAguiar esq. a Obrapía, Habana Vieja

Hotel Saratoga LH 3

The Saratoga Hotel – Reborn The oldest reference of what today is the elegant eclectic Saratoga Hotel dates back to 1879 when construction works for a three-story building began. The first floor was s …

EclecticAdmission: Free

$115 - $144ROOMS: 96Prado #603 esq. a Dragones, Habana Vieja