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To
Do in Old Havana
Habana Vieja part III |
Part three of what to do in Old Havana
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Partagas Cigar Factory
Founded in 1845, this is Cuba's largest and perhaps most renowned cigar factory, producing around 5 million cigars a year. The off-yellow and rust-trimmed neoclassical facade is resplendent in the Havana morning sunlight. (You can take your best photos of it from the west-side windows of El Capitolio.) Official tours are only offered at 10am and 2pm daily, although you can sometimes work your way into one of the many tour groups that come through all day long. Throughout the day, you can stop in and buy cigars from their well-stocked shop, La Casa del Habano.
Partagas Cigar Factory
Calle Industria 524
Behind the Capitolio
Centro Havana, Cuba
Tel: +53 7 8624604 |
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Plaza de Armas
The Plaza de Armas Park is a large park and centre of local and tourist activities located in the heart of Old Havana. There is a beautiful water fountain in the middle of the square, some benches, trees from different parts of Cuba, including palm trees and a large variety of flowers. In the centre there is a statue of the Cuban patriot hero Cespedes.
The park is well lit by many gas lamps. In the daytime there are people selling Spanish books, many of which pertain to the Cuban revolution of 1959.
In the evenings the park fills with life as many locals and tourists go to the restaurants and bars that surround the park and is a nice place to sit and enjoy the evening perhaps with a bottle of rum. |
El Templete
The people of 19th century Havana, inspired by the concept of origins and beginnings, erected the Templete, which is a monument that pays homage to the place where the foundation of the town of San Cristóbal de la Habana was celebrated in 1519. The monument consists of bust of Christopher Colombus and three canvases painted by Juan Bautista Vermay. It is Neoclassic building, typical example of colonial architecture.
In front of Templete, there is a column which replaces a silk-cotton tree, under which the first mass and the first Council of Havana were celebrated.
El Templete
Plaza de Armas
Habana Vieja
Old Havana, Cuba |
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La Muralla de la Habana
Originally intended to afford Havana's citizens protection from marauding pirates and bandits, they were constructed with several gates which were closed at night. With the expansion of the city, however, parts of the walls were demolished, starting as early as 1603, until only those sections standing today remained intact.
Old Havana, La Habana |
Parque La Maestranza
Located right in Habana Vieja, this 2-block stretch of city park is dedicated to the little ones. There are pony rides and a little train ride, as well as jungle gyms and inflatable rooms for romping around in. There are usually some clowns or mimes on hand, and balloons, popcorn, and soft drinks are for sale. This place is decidedly low-key and low-tech by Western standards, but the mix of mostly Cuban and some foreign kids never seem to mind
Parque La Maestranza
Calle Cuarteles
between Calle Tacón and Av. del Puerto
Old Havana, Cuba |
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