The Xanadú Mansion, known as Casa Dupont, holds nearly a century of stories, luxury, and mysteries within its walls, situated by the beach in Varadero.
Built at the height of the republican fervor in Cuba, this iconic residence not only reflects the power and vision of one of the wealthiest men of his time but also encompasses lesser-known episodes that shaped the development of the Hicacos Peninsula in Matanzas.
From its exclusive materials to the figures who lived in and visited it, the mansion remains today a symbol of an era of splendor, but also of the changes that transformed the destiny of Cuba.
The segment "Historia de Domingo" from Canal Caribe dedicated a report on Mansión Xanadú. The history of this house begins in 1927, when the Franco-American millionaire Irénée Dupont de Nemours acquired approximately 180 hectares of land on the Hicacos Peninsula for 90,000 pesos, at a rate of four cents per square meter.
Dupont commissioned the design from Cuban architects Evelio Govantes Fuentes and Félix Cabarrocas Ayala, who were also responsible for other iconic buildings in Cuba, such as the Capitol, the Hotel Nacional, and the University of Havana.
The construction of the Dupont House was entrusted to the Frederick Snare Corporation. The works were completed on December 30, 1930, with a total investment of 1.3 million dollars, a fortune for that time.
The owner named the residence "Xanadu," inspired by the legendary palace of the Mongolian warrior Kublai Khan. The mansion features four floors, 11 rooms, three terraces, seven balconies, and had a private dock.
Its materials were of the highest quality. The house retains its doors and decorations made from precious woods brought from Santiago de Cuba for the ceilings, stairs, and columns. It features Cuban, Italian, and Spanish marble for the floors and bathrooms.
In 1932, Dupont installed the largest private organ in Latin America in the mansion, valued at 11,000 dollars, featuring both automatic and manual machinery.
In addition to the mansion, the millionaire promoted the development of the entire peninsula. He sold land to wealthy Americans, financed the construction of a church, maintained a parish school, and in 1931 built the first 18-hole golf course in Cuba, now the Varadero Golf Club, covering 61 hectares. In 1933, he donated 40,000 pesos to aid the victims of a cyclone.
During the 1950s, Xanadú was the epicenter of Dupont's social life in Cuba, welcoming visits from Hollywood stars such as Cary Grant, Esther Williams, and Ava Gardner.
In 1957, Dupont visited the mansion for the last time: he suffered a leg fracture and was transferred to the United States, never to return to the island.
Irénée Dupont de Nemours passed away in 1963, on the same day that the mansion opened its doors to the public as the restaurant Las Américas. Following the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, the property —like many others owned by foreigners and wealthy Cubans— had come into the hands of the State.
Today, the Xanadú Mansion, declared a National Monument, operates as a boutique hotel and the clubhouse of the Varadero Golf Club, featuring the Xanadú Restaurant, which specializes in French and international cuisine.
In January 2018, rehabilitation works were reported being carried out by the non-agricultural cooperative DECORARTE, in an effort to preserve this architectural heritage.
"The Xanadú mansion stands as a testament to Dupont's legacy in Cuba and the rich history of the island," summarizes the historical account of this property that, nearly one hundred years after its construction, remains one of the most recognizable buildings in Varadero.
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