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Located along the waterfront, was developed during the decades between 1930 and 1960, when Havana developed as a major destination for U.S. tourists. High-rise hotels, restaurants, and upscale commercial establishments, many reflecting the then-popular art deco style, mushroomed in the Vedado district.
In the late 1990s Vedado represented the principal commercial area of the city, and its environs were home to a variety of important landmarks including the Hotel Nacional, the University of Havana, and the Colón Cemetery.
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Casa de Las Américas |
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This
Cuban institution for Latin American and Carribean culture
was born with the revolution and has been in existance for
over forty years. Multidisciplinary in nature, its annual
programme includes talks, workshops and prizes for literature,
as well as art, photography, musicology and print exhibitions.
The
galleries in the main building house one of the finest collections
of Latin American art.
There are three separate exhibition spaces and a specialised
library.
Disabled
access is available |
Casa
de Las Américas
Calle 3ra y G
Havana Vedado, Cuba
Tel:+53 7 552706 al 09, +53 7 334554
Open: 8am-5pm Mon-Fri |
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Cementerio Cristobál Colon |
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This
is one of the most famous cemeteries in Latin America, known
for its beauty and magnificence. The cemetery was built
in 1876 and has nearly a million tombs. Some of the gravestones
are decorated with the works of sculptors of the calibre
of Ramos Blancos, among others. Afrocuban religious practices
have a big influence in Cuban culture, and this cemetery
is no exception, on the contrary, it is quite common to
find rag dolls with colourful dresses resting by small graves.
The dolls are offerings to the various deities. |
Another
interesting fact is the legend of the Milagrosa (the Miraculous
Lady). She was a woman that died giving birth along with
her baby. They were buried in separate graves and later
on, when her grave was opened, they found the baby in her
arms. A lot of devout catholics leave offerings by her grave.
Disabled access is available.
Cementerio
Cristóbal Colón
Calle 12 esquina Calle 23
Havana Vedado, Cuba
Tel: +53 7 8321050
Cementerio
Cristóbal Colón
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Coppelia (icecream) |
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Made
famous in Tomás Gutiérez Alea's hit film Fresa
y chocolate (Strawberries and Chocolate), this is the main
branch of the Cuban national ice-cream company. At the center
of the block-long complex is a postmodern building of curving
concrete and glass, surrounded by a series of open courtyards
with wrought-iron tables, where customers are served bowls
of the frozen nectar. There are actually a dozen or so small
booths selling cones and bowls spread around the park. |
Still,
Coppelia is yet another glaring case of tourist apartheid:
Cubans form long lines to wait their turn at a table or
stand while tourists, who are paying in dollars and not
pesos, are always taken to the head of the line, or shown
to a separate dollar stand. There are usually only two or
three flavors available on any given day; if you're there
on a rum raisin day, you're in for a treat.
Coppelia (Icecream)
Calles 23 and L
(in the park at the other side of Cinema Yara)
Havana Vedado, Cuba |
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Zoológico Nacional |
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The
National Zoo is situated on the outskirts of Havana and
many of the animals housed here roam freely in areas which
resemble their natural habitats. For safety reasons visitors
are transported through these particular areas on a small
train, which allows close up views of the daily life of
the animal kingdom at large. Traditional enclosures in the
rest of the zoo mean you can wander at will through the
hundreds of species on show here.
Admission: 3 CUC
Disabled access is available.
Zoológico
Nacional
Carretera de Capdevila
(at the other side of the Viazul
bus station)
Km 3 y Boyeros
Havana, Cuba |
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Parque de 21 y K |
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This
Vedado public park in central Havana is a traditional meeting
place for the city's lovers. Its pretty shaded walkways
are also frequented by street musicians, artists and poets
who often end up here at the end of a long night on the
town, or in search of inspiration. Tourists are not immune
to its charms either.
Disabled access is available.
Parque
de 21 y K
Address: 21 y K
Havana Vedado, Cuba |
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Tabaco |
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Fábrica
de Tabaco H. Upmann
Calle Amistad 407
between Calles Barcelona and Dragones
Tel: +53 7 8620081
Or
the Fábrica de Tabaco La Corona
Calle Zulueta 106
between Calles Colón and Refugio
Tel: +53 7 8626173
Which are similarly charged with producing some of the country's
finest cigars. |
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