Havana Capitol, the best kept treasures of a city

He Capitol of Havana It is full of exciting stories and treasures. This building is a National Monument and has great relevance as a symbol of the nation's identity.

In times when the flights to Havana They distance themselves, due to the restrictions associated with the coronavirus, VaCuba shares with its readers some curiosities of Cuban heritage to approach the capital from a cultural perspective, because We know that there are many ways to travel.

The Hall of Lost Steps

He Capitol of Havana It was inaugurated in 1929, during the mandate of President Gerardo Machado, to house the chambers of the Congress of the Republic of Cuba. Among its most impressive spaces is the Salón de los Pasos Perdidos, designed in an eclectic style. It is perhaps the most elegant in all of Cuba.

This large room measures 1,740 square meters (120 meters long by 14.50 meters wide). Through it you can access the most important chambers, rooms and galleries of the building.

The Hall of Lost Steps has two wings and in the center is another of the Capitol's treasures, the diamond that marks kilometer 0 of the Central Highway of Cuba.

Diamond of the Capitol of Havana, a jewel with mystery

The Central Highway is the only one that links all the territories of the country. Many Cubans dream of traveling through it one day in its entirety. It is possible if you rent a car with VaCuba, to travel freely throughout the island. Finding kilometer 0 is simple, it is marked by a diamond.

This beautiful gem is linked to mystery stories. The original diamond belonged to the last Russian tsar, Nicholas II, who was assassinated by the Bolsheviks. They stripped his crown of diamonds and one of them, 25 carats, passed into the hands of a Turkish jeweler who brought it to Cuba.

In 1929 the jewel was installed in the Hall of Lost Steps, but in 1946 it was stolen. The stone was later returned in an envelope, without a return address, which was left on the table of President Ramón Grau San Martín. The diamond now on display is also of Russian origin and is called 'The Faithful'.

Capitol of Havana: the symbol of the Republic

The traveler who arrives before the capitol diamond will be at the foot of another great treasure of Havana, the Statue of the Republic. This bronze sculpture is the third largest indoor sculpture in the world. It measures 17.54 meters and weighs a total of 49 tons.

It reflects a figure of a young woman, standing, dressed in a tunic, wearing a helmet, shield and spear. In 2019, in honor of Havana's 500th anniversary, the Office of the City Historian obtained the collaboration of the Russian Embassy to restore it.

The statue received a 24-karat gold patina, as did the plaques on the Capitol's golden dome, which, by the way, reaches 91.72 meters in height and is the sixth largest in the world. More than 20 Russian experts participated in these restoration processes.

There was a time when everyone who arrived in Havana took a souvenir photo on the steps of the Capitol, because this impressive building is a milestone of Cuban architecture and a symbol of the Republic, a time of economic development and prosperity.

In new year festivities times The coronavirus has kept many Cubans distant, but in VaCuba We trust that soon we will all fly again.

In our offices you can process your passport or find that accommodation that fits your stay on the island. There are many ways to travel, let nothing stop us in 2021.