Sights in Cuba - Havana, Vedado and Plaza

Vedado is home of several government offices and also of the University of Havana. The most important avenue of the district is Calle 23., earlier La Rampa. If you search for bustling nightlife, you will find here.

 

Let’s go on a virtual tour now and check out the most important buildings and scenes:

 

 

Necropolis Colon /Christopher Columbus Cemetery/

 

In one of the biggest cemeteries of the world we can find 2 millions of graves. The cemetery was established in 1886 and designed by the Spanish architect, Calixto de Loira. Its layout looks like a whole town, built for dead. Parallel and perpendicular streets and allies are hiding granite and marble tombs. Among the graves of famous Cubans (such as General Maximo Gomez, chess champion Jose Raul Capablanca or composer Amadeo Roldán y Cardes) we can see many monuments, like the monuments of the firemen, medics or baseball players.

 

 

 

The enormous square was designed in 1952 and the buildings surrounding the square are also from this period. The crowded conventions of Havana and state ceremonies are held here and usually 1 million of Cubans are participating in these.
Here stands the Jose Marti monument too, it is cca. 120 metres tall. From its look-out tower we can admire the city. At the ground level of the monument we can find the Jose Marti Memorial Museum, here personal belongings of the revolutionist can be seen and we can also read his most famous sayings.

 

 

 

The university was founded by the cherubic monks in 1728. The buildings of the university that are still in use were built in the second half of the 20th century. Nowadays 30.000 students learn at the university and 1.700 professors help their mental improvement. In the university we can find the Museum of Natural Science and also the Napoleon and the Montane Anthropological Museums. Students play football and baseball in the stadium with 10.000 seats.

 

 

 

One of the most beautiful hotels of Havana still has its atmosphere from the 30s. At that time famous beauties and celebrities stayed in its rooms. In the romantic garden there are terraces from where you can see the Malecon.

 

 

 

Its name is from 1959: after the victorious revolution they named it Habana Libre, which means free Havana. You should spend some time with staring the decorations of the hotel: it has a beautiful wall covered with tiles from Venice and upstairs a beautiful decoration made from 525 ceramic mosaics.

 

 

 

 

The ice cream bar became very popular after the most famous Cuban movie: Strawberry and Chocolate.

 

 

Museo de Artes Decorativas /Museum of Applied Arts/

 

In the 20th century one of the wealthiest heirs of Cuba, Countess De Revilla De Camargo lived in the building. She collected articles of virtue and organized fabulous parties. Nowadays we can see wonderful pieces from the Far-East and Europe such as the desk of Marie Antoinette, furniture from the age of Loius the 14th or luxurious cutlery of Fulgencio Batista.

 

 

 

This is a busy market where you can buy arts and crafts, books and many other interesting Cuban pieces, but you should be aware of the cigar vendors.

 

 

 

It is a cultural centre, that operates as a bar, restaurant and disco too. It is situated in a luxurious art deco building.