Guía De La Habana Ingles.Indd
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La Habana Guide Free / ENGLISH EDITORIAL BOARD Oscar González Ríos (President), Chief of Information: Mariela Freire Edition y Corrección:Infotur de La Habana, Armando Javier Díaz.y Pedro Beauballet. Design and production: MarielaTriana Images, Photomechanics Printers: PUBLICITUR Distribution: Pedro Beauballet Cover Photograph: Alfredo Saravia National Office of Tourist Information: Calle 28 No.303, e/ 3ra y 5ta,Miramar, PLaya Tel:(537) 72040624 / 72046635 www.cubatravel.cu Summary Havana, hub city 6 Attractions 8 Directory Tour Bus 27 Cuban tobacco 31 Lodgings 32 Where to Eat 43 Where to listen to music 50 Galeries and Malls 52 Sports Centers 54 Religious Institutions and Fraternal Associations 55 Museums, Theaters and Art Galeries 56 Movie Theaters, Libraries 58 Customs Regulations 60 Currency 61 Assistance and Health 64 Travel Agencies 67 Telephones 68 Embassies 70 Transport 72 Airlines 74 Events 76 To Have in Mind 78 Information centers Infotur 79 Havana Hub City Founded in 1514, the Village San Cristobal de La Habana obtained the title of city on December 1592 and in 1607 was reognized as official capital of the colony. colonial architecture, with an ample range of Arab, Spanish, Italian and Greek-latin. We assist to see a certain Architecture eclecticism, an adaptation to sensations Havana became, over 200 years ago, and desires of the island. the most important and attractive city of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, Among these creole versions, stand enchanted city for its architecture. out the portico with columns. And, less frequently, the arches that among Fronts with pilasters flanking double other formulas, show a certain liberty, doors, halfpoint arches, columns, functionality and decorative simplicity. balconies, rafter and knuckle coffers, glazes and forges are elements of It is considered that Cuban was Havana architecture which have always America’s most complex and best seduced travelers. This architecture is presented architecture of the colonial also seen in several cities of the country. era. Several Cuban historic colonial centers are recognized as World Though all styles left their Heritage Sites and they stand out for insurmountable, historic, imprint, their cultural and functional values Cuban architecture manifested its own while showing the greatest and most independence. The influence of styles important architectonic currents of and cultures can be seen in Havana’s the world. 6 | Havana, Hub City With an excellentgeographiclocation, on the north coast of the Western region, Havana is the smallest province of the country. It has 15 municipalities and multiple residential suburbs. Its population exceeds two million inhabitants. Havana is, at the same time, capital of the Republic of Cuba and the most cosmopolitan city of the country. From its first centuries it became the most important cultural center of the island. Diversity is the mark of Havana’s culture. Convergence of traditions of African, Spanish, some Chinese and Arab origin, among other recognizable influences,recognizable in everyday city life. Havana offers surprising and unforgettable meetihgs, with history and architecture, both in museums and most emblematic sites. It also proposes tours and excursions ideal for a wholesome enjoyment. We invite you to find authentic experiences. The conservation of the historical center has been a priority of the Cuban State, Heritage centered in the Office of the Historian of Cuban culture has in its urban and Havana, who has conceived exceptional architectonic heritage qualifying forms of sustainable management. elements of great value, that Among these, the better use of tourism distingui8shes it in the regional and potentialities in a responsible way to universal context. In Havana, stand out dynamize local economy and generate the historical center of Havana, which well-being for the community. received in 1982 the condition of World Heritage by the UNESCO in recognition Tourism is interpreted as a way to of its universal and exceptional value continue the great conservation and allows the revival of the interest and rescue work of the immense in persons that visit us, due to the architectural and urban legacy present great diversity of its architecture throughout the nation. We invite you to and urbanism, conserved with a high discover it. degree of authenticity. Havana, Hub City | 7 | 7 Cubans It is very difficult to put into a few lines what is Cuban idiosyncrasy. In the big picture, it can be said that he/she is the result of the mixture of ethnias and diverse cultures that ended in creating a being and culture different from those that Tourism HAVANA is the most important tourism destination of the country. The modality of cultural tourism is predominantm and has four important municipalities which gather the main attractions and tourism services. In this city thanks to its varied offer, you can practice other modalities of tourism like sun and beach, nautics, business, cruising, social interest tourism, weddings and honeymoons, among others. Habana Vieja, stands out from the Plaza de la Revolución, district that rest. It is home to the house where our hosts the most diverse cultural events, National Hero Jose Marti was born, the such as theater, movie festivals and folk historical center with its fortress system. activities. Among its attractions stand It has an architectural wealth among the out La Rampa, where ice cream parlor best conserved in America, besides the Coppelia stands, the Cuba Pavillion and different squares built surrounded by very nearby, the University of Havana. churches, convents and cathedrals. Fortress San Francisco de Asis San Carlos de la Cabaña Square 8 | Havana, Hub City gave birth to it. But it is clear that it is joking,excessive. Enthusiastic and an incomplete and hurried definition. convinced there is no problem he That’s why more than speak of cannot solve, even though frequently Cuban idiosyncrasy it is best to he finds a problem to each solution. speak about Cubans. And a Cuban Cubans are also noble, dignified and may be described as: happy, chatty, patriots. funny, witty, always falling in These are the main traits you will love, argumentative, welcoming, find in a visit through the island and, generous, proud of his own, selfless. especially, among Havana dwellers. I However, Cubans are also hyperbolic, invite you to meet them. Centro Habana, in-between Playa, the most modern part of the municipality between old and modern city has Fifth Avenue and residences Havana. It has important avenues of contemporary architecture. The like Carlos III and famous places most important marina of the country sucha as the Chinese Quarter and the is located there, the most significant Hammel Alley. convention center, the Palacio de Convenciones and world-renowned Cabaret Tropicana. Old Square National Botanical Garden Revolution Square Havana, Hub City | 9 Monuments and Fortresses Morro Castle of the Three Kings This fortress of great historic value and outstanding tourist and cultural attraction, is located on a crag, at the entrance of the port of Havana. Its construction, ordered by King Felipe II, was begun in 1589 and completed in 1630. It is endowed with 12 cannons, each one with the names of apostles, guarding the entrance to the Port of Havana. In the past, when the English tried to seize the city and Spain recovered it through the 1763 Treaty, a lighthouse was added to warn the population of any danger. In 1945 it was subject to actions of preservation, achieving since then an active cultural life that attracts a great amount of visitors. The Castle has now two restaurants: The Twelve Apostles and the Divine Shepherdess, besides a bar, located in its ancient artillery batteries, where an extraordinary panorama of the Havana coastline may be seen. divided into nine equal parts that round off four regular bastions. Castle of the Royal Force of Havana Surrounding it, is a moat limited by the perimetral wall. Its perfect symmetry reminds O’Reilly Nº2 e/ Avenida del Puerto y Tacón, Old of Italian and French renaissance constructions Havana. of the 16th Century, although the volumes of the architectural mass and its isolation The Castle of the Royal Force of Havana is approach them to the medieval tradition. the most ancient in Cuba. Its construction started on December 1, 1558, in the space As of 1588, expansions were begun in the occupied by the primitive Square of the upper story, destined to house governors Villa, in front of the entry channel to the and, towards 1630, a story was added bay, where the cabildo (townhall) the to the tower on the angle of the south governor’s residence and houses of the western bulwark. In that place was put as main neighbors. weather vane, La Giraldilla (statuette of an aristocratic lady). At present, this castle The castle’s ground floor is a square can be visited by the public in general. 1010 | | Havana, Hub City Castle of St. Salvador de la Punta of independence, La Cabaña served as Avenida del Puerto and Prado, Old Havana. a prison and its moat was a place for executions by firing squad. In the 20th It is erected at the entrance of the Port Century, as the defensive nature of of Havana, twinned from its origin with the fortress disappeared, it served as the Morro Castle of the Three Kings warehouse, lodging of troops and prison. and the Castle of the Royal Force, Restoration works of La Cabaña started being part of the defensive system in 1986 in a coordinated project between of Havana. These three fortresses the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed appear in the city’s coat of arms. Forces and the Office of the Historian of Havana to create the Historic Park The design of the fortress goes back to Morro-Cabaña and the work was the last decades of the 16th Century, concluded in 1992.