International Travel Desk

Its history is as impressive as its architecture. In the area where today raises up The Capitol of Havana there was a huge swamp and the first botanical garden in Cuba which was built in the early nineteenth Century.

The planning of today's Capitol took many years but once the construction started it was finished in only 3 years, something very impressive for a building of its magnitude. Those were times of economic crises and huge unemployment and thousands of people went to work on this project.

The impressive building was inaugurated on 1929. Whoever was a celebrity or personality in Cuba in those times in Cuba graced with their presence the opening ceremonial. Among this personality was of course the President of The Republic Gerardo Machado.

The cost of the project reached 17 million dollars in those days and something around 100 million dollars at present. All the personnel involved in the planning and construction was local including the prestigious architect Eugenio Raynieri Piedra.

Its dome is second in height to the tower at the Square of The Revolution. The style of the entire construction is an extraordinary expression of the Neoclassic architecture in Cuba. The portico it guarded by 17 enormous ionic pillars and 3 colossal mahogany doors imprinted with events of the Cuban history.

Right under the Cupola the third tallest sculpture indoors in the world can be admired. It is a lady made of bronze holding in her left hand a long spear representing the republic of Cuba. It was brought from Italy and it was designed by the famous artist Angelo Zanelli.

The Capitol building used to house head of the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate since it was built until 1959. Right after the triumph of the Revolution led by Castro it turned into the biggest museum in Cuba presenting visitors with the past of the pseudo republican era.

Visiting the Capitol of Havana it can only be an astounding experience. It doors, rooms and columns hide a lot of history. If Havana is included in your package holiday and you are staying in a hotel in Havana Vieja area it will take you just some few minutes walk to this building. You must not miss the chance to see this dazzling piece of architecture and archive of so much history.