Hostal Conde de Villanueva

CA4
General sightseeing
Architectural style: Spanish colonial
CA Ranking: 4
Admission: n-a
Mercaderes #202, e/ Lamparilla y Amargura, Habana Vieja
  • The former 18th-century mansion of Claudio Martínez de Pinillos, Count of Villanueva, leader of Cuban Creole society in the 19th century, was restored in the 1990s to create a charming and comfortable nine-bedroom boutique hotel run by Habaguanex. The hotel also boasts one of Old Havana’s best cigar shops with private humidors to boot.

    The exterior is painted in sienna red and bulges outward from the base, giving the impression of impending collapse. It has an attractive and soothing inner courtyard while the upstairs suites contain stained-glass windows, chandeliers and arty sculptures.

    
  • Compañía Cubana de Electricidad

    Compañía Cubana de Electricidad  LH 1

    Made with reinforced concrete and constructed entirely as an office building, it now houses the Ministerio de la Industria Básica (Ministry of Basic Industry). Rich materials such as marble, granite, …

    Muelle de Luz-Ferry a Regla

    Muelle de Luz-Ferry a Regla  LH 1

    This tiny ferry dock takes its name from Calle Luz, a nearby street. Somewhat battered passenger ferries shuttle across the bay to and from Regla and Casablanca, every 10-15 minutes or so.

    Apartment building

    Apartment building  LH 1

    Constructed on piles–a solution that is essentially in the style of Le Corbusier, which apart from transmitting a sort of lightness to the building, makes the corner lose its traditional compactness; …

    Unión Árabe de Cuba

    Unión Árabe de Cuba  LH 1

    This is the venue of the Unión Árabe de Cuba, which represents around 50,000 Arab descendants from all over the country. It has a small art gallery which features Arab-influenced art and ceramics.

    Solimar Building

    Solimar Building  LH 1

    An interesting and typical example of the Streamline movement which preferred rounded corners and a sensation of motion can be seen in this building built in 1944. The recovery of simple forms and the …

    Palacio del Segundo Cabo

    Palacio del Segundo Cabo  

    In 1770 the Spanish Crown decided to construct a building next to the Castillo de la Real Fuerza on the north side of the Plaza de Armas to serve as the Royal Post Office, responsible for all postal c …

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