Escuela Nacional de Ballet

CA3
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.

    
  • Banco de La Habana

    Banco de La Habana  LH 2

    This 1915 two-story building was made of reinforced concrete. Its façade was composed of elements of the Ionic order and stood out because of its semicircular portico and its beautiful wooden door, wh …

    Parque de la Fraternidad

    Parque de la Fraternidad  LH 2

    By 1790, this originally mangrove swampy area became Campo de Marte, a military practice range, which was expanded in 1793 thanks to a project by Belgian engineer Agustin Cramer. And after Bishop Espa …

    Cárcel de la Habana

    Cárcel de la Habana  LH 2

    Up until 1834 there were no prisons in Havana. Back then, prisoners were crammed together in a small area on the Palacio de Gobierno’s basement. With this in mind, Lieutenant General Miguel Tacón, Gov …

    Parque de los Mártires Universitarios

    Parque de los Mártires Universitarios  LH 2

    This cement park was built in 1967 to honor university students involved in Cuba’s independence struggles. The most notable element, located by the most important entrance, can be interpreted a fist, …

    Casa del Científico (Casa de José Miguel Gómez)

    Casa del Científico (Casa de José Miguel Gómez)  LH 2

    The compact yet extravagant Beaux Arts building on the northwest corner of Prado and Trocadero was once the residence of Cuba’s second president, José Miguel Gómez, known as ‘El Tiburón’ (The Shark). …

    Museo Farmacia Taquechel

    Museo Farmacia Taquechel  LH 2

    This townhouse was adapted in 1898 into a pharmacy by Francisco Taquechel. Restored and reopened in 1996, it functions as pharmacy and museum. Its collection includes 19th-century French porcelain apo …

    Edificio del Seguro Médico

    Edificio del Seguro Médico  LH 2

    This is one of the most significant exponents of the trends in architecture in Havana of its time. According to architect Pedro Martínez Inclán, “Quintana can boast about having given Havana…two build …

    Parque Maceo

    Parque Maceo  LH 2

    Dominating the Malecón to the west, at the foot of Belascoaín (Avenida Padre Varela), is the massive bronze monument to Antonio Maceo, on top of a marble base in a plaza with a fountain. The classical …

    Aqvarivm

    Aqvarivm  LH 2

    This modest aquarium has over 90 different species of freshwater fish and aquatic plants, displayed in small tanks. Tropical fish tanks are popular in many Cuban family homes and fish can be purchased …

    Memorial a los Estudiantes de Medicina

    Memorial a los Estudiantes de Medicina  LH 2

    Inaugurated in 1890, this memorial is a shrine to eight medical students who were executed by firing squad on November 27, 1871, after being falsely accused of desecrating the tomb of Spanish journali …

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