Quinta de los Molinos

CA4
City squares / parks
CA Ranking: 4
Ave Salvador Allende e/ Infanta y Ave de los Presidentes
  • When the grounds that were occupied by a small botanical garden in the vicinity of today’s Capitolio de La Habana were needed to build a railroad station, Captain General Miguel Tacón, responsible for many urbanization and embellishment works in the capital of Cuba, instructed that the garden be relocated to the north of the Paseo del Prado, in the grounds where tobacco mills (which remained operational until the second half of the 19th century) and the millers’ dwellings were located, thus being popularly known as Los Molinos (literally, The Mills). Because the vegetation gave the place a pleasant ambience, Tacón ordered the construction of a one-floor (years later, Captain General O’Donnell had a second story built), five-room recreational villa for the captains general. The galleries had shutters to facilitate the circulation of air and to modulate the light that filtered in.

    The villa’s lush garden was surrounded by wrought-iron railings on a stone plinth with seats. In addition to its plants of various species, which gained this garden a place in the World System of Botanical Gardens in 1906, visitors can also admire life-size statues and busts representing Olympian gods, such as Minerva, Juno or Ceres. There was also a small zoo formed especially by aquatic birds that lived in a pond whose waters flowed from the Zanja Real (Royal Canal) that ran very near there. This is also the place where the mariposa (Hedychium coronarium) was declared Cuba’s national flower in 1936.

    The ornamental tropical gardens that front the house were transplanted from an earlier site on El Prado and contain fountains, artificial hillocks, mini waterfalls, pergolas and grottos. One of Havana’s key music venues (lots of rock and rap) is also located here, home to the Asociación Hermanos Saíz, representing young musicians, writers, artists and poets. Locally known as La Madriguera (879 8175), musicians can often be heard practising in the gardens.

    
  • Plaza de Armas

    Plaza de Armas  LH 5+

    The early city was formally founded in 1519 on the northeast side of what would soon be laid out as Plaza de la Iglesia—named for the simple church that stood here until 1741, when it was destroyed fo …

    Gran Parque Metropolitano (Parque Almendares)

    Gran Parque Metropolitano (Parque Almendares)  LH 5+

    Along the banks of the Almendares River is Parque Almendares, also known as Bpsque de La Haband (Havana’s Forest). This is the only urban forest in the city and is a recreational area for Habaneros th …

    Plaza de San Francisco

    Plaza de San Francisco  LH 5+

    Right across Havana harbor, Plaza de San Francisco is one of the first three built in the 16th century. It takes its name from the Franciscan convent built there. The plaza became the site of a market …

    Plaza de la Catedral

    Plaza de la Catedral  LH 5+

    The last of the main squares to be created, this is one of Old Havana’s most beautiful spots. Originally, it was named Plaza de la Ciénaga (Swamp Square) because of its muddy terrain, but by the 18th …

    Hotel Nacional de Cuba

    Hotel Nacional de Cuba  LH 5+

    In response to the increasing influx of American tourists in the late 20s (mainly those who were escaping Prohibition, in force in the United States at the time), the construction of a luxury hotel wa …

    Callejón de Hamel

    Callejón de Hamel  LH 5+

    The narrow two-block long alley between Aramburu and Hospital streets in Centro Habana has over the years become a shrine to Afro-Cuban religions through the art created by Salvador González. The buil …

    Necrópolis de Cristóbal Colón

    Necrópolis de Cristóbal Colón  LH 5+

    History & architecture Declared National Monument in 1987, this is the most important cemetery in Cuba and its 57 hectares (10 acres) makes it the largest in America. According to Enrique Martínez …

    Catedral de La Habana

    Catedral de La Habana  LH 5+

    The entry of the Jesuits in Cuba was formally requested in 1656, and in 1727, a plot was granted for their school and church. Bishop Brother Gerónimo Valdés explained to the King of Spain that Havana’ …

    The Malecón

    The Malecón  LH 5+

    The Malecón, first named Avenida del Golfo, is Cuba’s most famous sea-side avenue. The project was undertaken by Don Francisco de Albear, Cuba’s greatest engineer at the time. Albear came up with a co …

    Museo de la Ciudad (Palacio de los Capitanes Generales)

    Museo de la Ciudad (Palacio de los Capitanes Generales)  LH 5

    History & architecture Considered the most important example of baroque architecture in the city, this grand building on the west side of the plaza was built in 1792, on the sight of the former pa …

    1 of 22 pages »