Palacio de la Marquesa de Villalba

CA3
General sightseeing
Architectural style: Neo-classical
CA Ranking: 3
Admission: n-a
Egido e/ Dragones y Monte, Habana Vieja
  • One of the most majestic buildings in Havana, it was partly built on the sight of the old wall that surrounded the city, and it is said that the stones of the wall were used in its construction. It was, at the time, the largest Cuban building for living purposes, with a surface area of 2,300 square meters, ground floor, mezzanine and main floor.

    A notable characteristic is the harmony achieved in the series of arches in the portal, in which the Ionic order is predominant, and the windows of the main floor, closer to the Corinthian order. The wrought-iron banister is in keeping with the trend of the times, but the splendid door made of the same material is exceptional. The top floor is now home to the dance academy Sociedad Rosalía de Castro.

     

    
  • Clock Tower

    Clock Tower  LH 2

    Between 1921 and 1924, a clock tower was built on Fifth Avenue. It was designed by New Yorker John H. Duncan, one of the architects that contributed to the layout of the avenue and who also designed t …

    Museo del Naipe Marqués de Prado Ameno

    Museo del Naipe Marqués de Prado Ameno  LH 2

    Opened on May 2, 2001, the small yet immensely impressive Playing Card Museum occupies the ground floor of the Casa del Marqués de Prado Amero, dating from the 17th century and the oldest building in …

    Iglesia y Convento de Santa Catalina de Siena

    Iglesia y Convento de Santa Catalina de Siena  LH 2

    The Convent of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Catherine of Siena moved from its former site in Old Havana to a new and prime location in El Vedado on May 13, 1918. The construction of the convent and …

    Patronato de la Casa de la Comunidad Hebrea y Gran Sinagoga bet Shalom

    Patronato de la Casa de la Comunidad Hebrea y Gran Sinagoga bet Shalom  LH 2

    This is the biggest of Cuba’s five synagogues and is considered one of the most important architectural works in the country. It has a hard-looking exterior with vertical lines that make reference to …

    Fuente de las Américas

    Fuente de las Américas  LH 2

    The Fuente de Las Américas, built as a tribute to the discoverer of the Americas, was inaugurated in 1924 as part of the construction of Avenida de las Américas, now known as 5ta Avenida. Made in whit …

    Hotel Telégrafo

    Hotel Telégrafo  LH 2+

    Initially located on Amistad Street and relocated in 1899 to its present site, the Telégrafo Hotel was rebuilt in 1911 and was considered then one of the most modern hotels in Havana. In 2001 it was r …

    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 …

    Casa de Asia

    Casa de Asia  LH 2

    Opened in 1997, this small museum—upstairs in a townhouse mansion built in 1688—displays collections that depict the lifestyle, dress, religious beliefs, rituals and traditions from different Asiatic …

    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, …

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