Tourist Attractions & Monuments Cuba

We almost didn't believe it anymore, but the Cuban Capitol reopened to the public in March 2018 after almost 10 years of restoration work! The upper part of the Capitol (the dome) underwent longer renovations, but the work was completed on time: in 2019, right in the year of the celebration of the 500 years of the foundation of Havana! The Capitol is truly one of the must-sees of Havana and Cuba. Don't miss the guided tour, it's fascinating. However, you will have to register the same day and the wait can sometimes be very long. The organization was still approximate at the time of our visit, but the wait is worth it and you will be simply amazed by this building of a rare beauty whose interior has been superbly restored!

The Capitolio Nacional (National Capitol) was built between 1926 and 1929, by order of the dictator Gerardo Machado, who wanted to reproduce the one in Washington. It was built on the grounds of Havana's first railway station. Slightly larger than its namesake, it was inaugurated with great pomp on May 20, 1929. Seat of the House of Representatives and the Senate before the revolution, it now houses the offices of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, as well as a scientific library. The vast granite staircase (39.5 m wide and 27 m long) leads to a monumental porch, where two bronze sculptures (about 7 m high and weighing 11 t) are enthroned. The one on the right represents Work, the one on the left, the Virtue of the people. They are the work of the Italian sculptor Angelo Zanelli. Behind the powerful columns, the three doors of the main entrance, also made of bronze, have bas-reliefs illustrating episodes of Cuban history: four allegories, from the pre-Columbian period to the inauguration of the Capitol. Another element of this gigantism is the dome (inspired by that of the Pantheon in Paris), 91.73 meters high. It is covered with gilded copper, which makes it visible from afar. Under the dome is one of the largest statues in the world, installed inside a building: 14 m and 30 t, due once again to the talent of Zanelli. The statue of Minerva symbolizes the Republic, in the guise of a young woman wearing a tunic and carrying a helmet, shield and lance. If the exterior is predominantly neoclassical, the interior is eclectic: an Andalusian patio, an Italian Renaissance salon, another Louis XIV style. The floors and columns are made of 58 different marbles. In the Salón de los Pasos Perdidos (the room of the lost steps), this time the reference is rather to be found in... Versailles. The room, designed for parties and official ceremonies, deserves its name: 48 meters long and 14.50 meters wide, not to mention its height. At the foot of the statue of the Republic, and in the center of the circle drawn by marble of different colors, was placed a 24-carat diamond that indicated kilometer 0 of Havana, the point from which all roads in Cuba started. As Alejo Carpentier recounts in his novel El Recurso del Método(The Methodist Remedy, Gallimard), the diamond was stolen during the presidency of Grau San Martín (1944-1948). If you want to know more, read the novel...! Let's just specify that it will be found in the private office of the president's sister-in-law. And shame on anyone who thinks badly! In the end, the authentic stone was integrated into the national heritage and remains today under good guard. The one that shines brightly at the foot of the statue is therefore fake, but it faithfully indicates Havana's kilometer 0.

During the guided tour, you will have the opportunity to discover the office of the President of the House of Representatives in imperial style and directly inspired by the Bonapartist style; it is the only French-style room in the whole Capitol and it is quite impressive. But remember that you will not be able to take pictures of it... Photos are only possible in the main hall of the Capitol. Another curiosity is the sixty bas-reliefs inlaid on the entrance doors, representing chronologically the most important events in Cuban history. You will also learn that no less than 20 kg of gold were used for all kinds of interior finishing of the building. Finally, in one of the courtyards of the Capitol there is a plaque commemorating five workers who died on the construction site.

Practical The visits are only done in groups of 15 people with a guide, in English or Spanish, and they last 45 minutes. The visiting hours are at 10:00, 11:00, 13:30, 14:30 and 15:30; on Wednesdays and Sundays, the visiting hours are at 10:30, 11:30, 13:30, 14:30 and 15:30. Please note that it is not possible to reserve a guided tour in advance. To participate in a tour, simply go to the ticket office and register for the next available tour. Registration is done at the bottom of the stairs, on the left side of the hallway (so don't go up the grand staircase for nothing because they will send you back down). The price for the guided tour is 10 € per person.

It is one of the most beautiful cemeteries of Cuba and it is a visit to make absolutely during your passage in Santiago de Cuba! Inaugurated in 1868, all white and made of Carrara marble, very green and immense, it is organized in masterly alleys where the tombs are often surmounted by superb sculptures.

Although it is a very pleasant place to walk around, in order to fully grasp its history and complexity, we really recommend a guided tour (about 1 hour), just ask for it when you buy your ticket. The Santa Ifigenia cemetery and its 10,000 graves includes the graves of many ordinary inhabitants of Santiago de Cuba but also of some of the great families of the city and especially of illustrious characters of Cuban history, which makes it similar to the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris and makes it an open-air museum.

José Martí's mausoleum. José Martí, the Apostle of the Homeland, rests in a magnificent and imposing white marble mausoleum on which one can read: "When I die/Without a homeland but without a master/Have on my tomb a bouquet of flowers and a flag." And indeed a bouquet of white flowers and the Cuban flag are in the mausoleum permanently in accordance with his wishes ...

Fidel Castro's tomb. At the entrance to the cemetery lies Fidel Castro who died on November 25, 2016 in Havana. He is buried a few meters from José Martí, for whom he had great admiration and who inspired him throughout his career. After being cremated, his ashes traveled throughout the country during the 9 days of national mourning before being buried here on December 4, 2016 in strict privacy. 21 cannon shots were then fired but no speeches were made according to his last wishes. His grave is very sober, materialized by a block of pure granite 2.5 m high and 42 tons, extracted from the Gran Piedra, which is part of the Sierra Maestra, and which symbolizes the strength of the Cuban Revolution. Fidel's remains are inside this granite block to symbolize Fidel's action inside the Sierra Maestra. A symbolism that refers directly to the quote of José Marti "All the glory of the world is in a grain of corn". The green plants all around symbolize the Sierra Maestra, which had a key importance in the finalization of the Cuban Revolution. All around the granite block and the plants, 19 columns can be seen, representing the 19 warring fronts set up in the Sierra Maestra by Fidel; they are joined by a bronze chain that represents the common struggle of all these fronts for the triumph of the Revolution. On the granite block is simply affixed a marble plaque with the inscription "Fidel". This simplicity is an integral part of Fidel Castro's last wishes, as he did not want any statue or monument in his cemetery, or even anywhere else in the country, as he rejected any personality cult.

Other Cuban personalities in the cemetery. Other heroes of the war for independence and the revolution are also buried there, such as Mariana Grajales, considered the mother of the country by Cubans, as she sacrificed most of her children in the war against Spain for Cuba's independence; Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, considered the father of the Cuban homeland, because this rich landowner was the main initiator of the war of independence against Spain; Frank País and the fighters of the attack on the Moncada barracks as well as those of the uprising of November 30, 1956. Finally, several famous Cuban music artists are buried here, including Compay Segundo, the singer of the Buenavista Social Club. On his grave there is a replica of his hat and guitar, which he never left, and 95 bronze flowers that represent the age of the singer's death. Compay's remains are above the funerary monument, in a beautiful wooden box placed on sand from Siboney, where Compay Segundo was born in the province of Santiago de Cuba.

The tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte's doctor. During your visit to the cemetery, you will notice many French surnames, including the Corsican François Antommarchi, the fourth and last doctor of Napoleon Bonaparte. He was the one who made Napoleon's death mask. He came to Cuba after Napoleon's death and is considered the pioneer of ophthalmology in Cuba, as he was the first doctor to perform a cataract operation in Cuba, which took place in Santiago de Cuba itself. He also founded the first medical center in the city to treat patients suffering from yellow fever, from which he died in 1838.

The changing of the military guard. Throughout the day, every half hour, the military guard is relieved at the entrance of the cemetery. The rest of the time the soldiers are not allowed to move.

This is the only military ceremony of its kind in the whole country. It has been held since 2002, following an idea of Fidel Castro, who wanted to pay homage to José Marti first, before extending this homage to the mother and father of the Cuban homeland, namely Mariana Grajales and Carlos Manuel de Cespedes. Since the death of Fidel Castro in 2016, this military ceremony also pays tribute to Fidel, considered the^4th major figure in the Cuban revolutionary process.

The historical and architectural heart of Trinidad, the Plaza Mayor (the former Plaza Fernando VII, Plaza de la Constitución, then Plaza Serrano), constitutes one of the most homogeneous sets of the colonial period in Cuba. Elegant and distinguished with its pastel tones, it concentrates the most beautiful colonial mansions built between the 18th and 19th centuries by the great local families, some of which have been transformed into museums. Today, the house of the magistrate Ortíz houses the Guamu-haya Archaeological Museum (on the west side of the square, on Calle Martínez). The Museum of Trinitarian Architecture is housed in the Sánchez-Iznaga house (south of the square). The Romantic Museum is located in the heart of the Counts of Brunet's palace (northeast, corner of Bolívar and Echerri streets). In addition to the church and the beautiful buildings of undeniable character that surround it, its royal palms and cobbled streets complete the ensemble perfectly. It is truly one of the most beautiful squares in Trinidad, if not in Cuba, and when a beautiful sunset or full moon comes along, memories are guaranteed... On weekends and holidays, this is also where all the Trinitarios go. So come by on a Saturday afternoon, then in the evening, to observe the social life of the city: sellers of toys and other sweets, children running around, families celebrating a birthday, teenage love affairs in their infancy, old people taking the cool of the evening... The whole society is there!

Located 5 km west of the four hotels that follow each other along the northern beaches of the cayo. A bar dominates the entrance to this large deserted beach of fine sand. But once past the bar, it's guaranteed tranquility! This magnificent beach with crystalline waters has the advantage of being protected from the wind but is especially far from any construction, once past the bar. A real lost paradise. A favorite ! After the passage of Irma, the authorities have added sand on the beach to give it back its former splendor and it's a success!

The former presidential palace is now the Museum of the Revolution. Designed by two architects, the Cuban Rodolfo Maruri and the Belgian Paul Belau, it was built between 1912 and 1919. From 1917 onwards, it was used as a residence for presidents. Between its inauguration in 1920 and the revolution in 1959, twenty-one presidents passed through it. This four-story building is built entirely of white stone. The sober elegance of the exterior contrasts with the luxury of the interior, where marble, columns and salons abound, including the Salón de los Espejos, a replica of the famous Versailles gallery, and the Salón Dorado, all in yellow marble.

On March 13, 1957, a group of young revolutionaries attacked the presidential palace with the aim of assassinating President Fulgencio Batista, who had taken power five years earlier in a coup. The operation failed. Batista managed to escape through a secret door in his office. Most of the attackers were killed, while the president of the Student Federation, José Antonio Echeverría, who had successfully participated in the seizure of Radio Reloj to spread the news, was killed by the police as he tried to reach the university. To honor these young revolutionaries, the park in front of the palace was named Parque Trece de Marzo. Fidel Castro, in January 1959, gave his first big speech in Havana on the terrace of the north wing of the palace. He never lived there, probably wanting to distinguish himself from all the presidents who preceded him. But it was the close relationship of this place with recent history that designated it, in 1974, for its new function, that of the Museum of the Revolution.

With documents, photos, objects, maps, models, etc., the Museum of the Revolution offers, on three levels, a complete and chronological vision of the history of the Cubans' struggle for independence. Don't miss it under any circumstances and plan at least 1 hour and a half because of its richness. You will go from the aboriginal rebellions against the conquistadores to the independence wars of the 19th century against the slavery of the Spanish colonial power. The twentieth century is not to be outdone with the highlighting of social and political demands, naturally. Linger on the fascinating history of the labor movement in the 1920s and 1930s and the emergence of the revolutionary process. Don't miss the sections devoted to guerrilla warfare, including the two life-size sculptures of Camilo Cienfuegos and Che Guevara in the Sierra Maestra. The last part of the museum is dedicated to the consolidation of the gains of the 1959 revolution.

You can also visit the presidential office where the different Cuban presidents succeeded each other until Batista.

Then go outside the museum to visit the Granma memorial, where the eponymous yacht on which Fidel Castro and 81 fighters left Mexico to wage the last revolutionary war is on display. The overloaded boat sailed painfully for a week before running aground in Las Coloradas on December 2, 1956. Spotted by Batista's troops, many of them were killed immediately. However, Fidel Castro and some of them managed to reach the Sierra Maestra mountains, home of the insurrectional struggle that ended in victory on January¹, 1959.

Entirely reserved for pedestrians, this pretty square built in the 18th century - Plaza del Carmen means the Square of Charm in French - is surrounded by pastel-colored colonial houses and pretty little restaurants. Note the elegant lamp posts, the famous tinajónes (huge earthenware jars), but especially the statues of Martha Jimenez, an artist recognized by UNESCO for her ceramic works, which embellish the whole. Her bronze statues represent historical characters of the city (the water seller in tinajones, the couple of lovers, the newspaper reader who is the only living character represented) or imaginary figures such as "the celestial gossips" who are sitting seemingly in the middle of a gossip session... If you sit on the free chair and ask them to grant a wish, your wish will come true. This superstition, created by Martha Jiménez Pérez, is a way to make passers-by participate in this work of art. Afterwards, you can believe it, or not.

Nearby, visit the beautiful Baroque church of Carmen with two bell towers (19th century), the only one in the region. Completely restored in 2002, it adjoins the Ursuline convent, dating from 1829, whose patio with beautiful arcades invites meditation. After the departure of the sisters to Havana, the convent sheltered hurricane victims and a school for the poor. The premises now house the offices of the city's official historian.

At the end of Cayo Guillermo, there is a superb beach with ultra fine sand and crystal clear waters. The setting is wild and sublime. It is certainly the most beautiful beach of Cuba, and the favorite of Hemingway, great connoisseur of Cuba. Being very exposed to gusts of wind, we do not recommend visiting the beach on days of high winds. Head for Playa Flamenco, on Cayo Coco: sheltered from the wind, it is the ideal beach to spend the day in these cases and it is almost as beautiful as Playa Pilar! A certain idea of paradise.

Built in the 16th century, the church was destroyed several times. The present structure dates from the beginning of the 19th century. The building houses a famous cross, the Santa Cruz de la Parra. It is said to be the only surviving cross of the 29 crosses that Christopher Columbus carried on his journey to the Americas. This cross is so popular that visitors had the annoying habit of taking a small piece of it... A metallic envelope protects it now.

It is THE visit not to be missed in Santiago de Cuba! After long restoration works, the cathedral reopened during 2015 for the 500 years of the city and the result is superb! Dominating the square, the seat of the archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba was rebuilt four times on the foundations of the first cathedral (completed in 1528, then destroyed). The current church dates from the 19th century. The facade and aisles were decorated in 1922 in an eclectic style. Note the five naves and the large number of secondary altars. Several bishops and Diego Velázquez are buried here.

Don't miss the chance to climb to the top of the tower to enjoy a sublime panoramic view of Santiago de Cuba. To reach the top, you have to climb a total of 93 steps, and, to tell the truth, the last ones are quite sporty with a very steep wooden staircase. Avoid tap shoes if you can and wear sneakers instead... In any case, you should know that your efforts will be rewarded because the view you will have is well worth it.

Important: to visit the church, you should cover your shoulders and wear pants or a skirt that covers at least your knees. If you are not sufficiently dressed, you will not be allowed to enter for indecent exposure.

Mass.If you wish to attend a mass in the cathedral, here are the times: Tuesday to Friday at 6:30 pm, Saturday at 5 pm, Sunday at 9 am and 6:30 pm.

This beautiful valley, classified by Unesco, boasts a unique landscape and exceptional colors. It is not necessary to go very far from the village to be totally disoriented. A few hundred meters are enough to find yourself in the middle of the fields with red earth, near the tobacco crops with the mogotes - karstic reliefs inherited from the Jurassic period - emerging on the horizon. On your way, on foot, by bike, or on horseback, the peasants(guajiros) you meet will often be delighted to share the fruits of their crops!

The Havana people simply call it the Plaza, because, of all the Cuban squares, it is undoubtedly the best known and the most significant. Larger than the Plaza de la Concorde, it is still too small for large political gatherings, especially the one on May^1st. The Ministry of the Interior, the National Theater, the National Library and the building housing the Council of State, the Council of Ministers and the Central Committee of the Communist Party frame the square, which makes this Revolutionary Square the epicenter of political life in Cuba and explains the large police presence there, even if it is not immediately noticeable... What is striking are the huge portraits of Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos that dominate the square.

It is in this vast space that the Cubans have taken, since 1959, the most important decisions of their history. Fidel Castro has made long and passionate speeches in front of huge crowds of attentive listeners. Contrary to what many foreigners imagine, the Plaza de la Revolución is not the work of the revolutionary government, since the idea of building a civic plaza goes back to the advent of the republic. It was in 1953, during the Batista regime, that the construction of the Plaza Cívica began, which was renamed Plaza de la Revolución on July 16, 1961. The first major event celebrated after the triumph of the revolution was the International Workers' Day on May¹, 1961.

Built in 1559 after the Plaza de Armas, intended for the military at the time, the Plaza Vieja (Old Square) quickly became the heart of the city. The first attempt at urban planning in the history of post-Columbian America, its layout innovated in relation to the Spanish urban organization with the integration of private residences. With the advent of the pseudo-republic (1902-1959), many of the beautiful homes of the past were replaced by buildings of no interest. You will pass by here more than once.

The cathedral occupies the entire side of Empedrado Street that faces the square, between San Ignacio and Mercaderes. The Jesuits began to build it in 1748, but work stopped in 1767 when they were expelled from Cuba by order of King Charles III of Spain. In 1772, the Parroquia Mayor, which had been erected in the Plaza de Armas but was reduced to dust by the explosion of the ship Invincible (anchored in the port), was moved to this square. The work was resumed and completed in 1777. Eleven years later, in 1788, the island was divided into two dioceses and the bishop Jose of Very Palacios was appointed. He transformed the oratory of Saint Ignatius into a cathedral dedicated to the Purísima Concepción. From 1946 to 1950, Cardinal Archbishop Manuel Arteaga initiated new renovations to the cathedral, in order to allow more light to enter the building, which is said to have gained in ventilation and beauty.

Today it is called Catedral de San Cristobal de La Habana, but for Cubans it is simply the cathedral. With its 35 meter façade, it is a quadrilateral with impressive dimensions. Neither the passing of time nor the tropical climate has been kind to the stone, but with the help of restoration, San Cristobal remains one of the most beautiful and imposing churches in Cuba. The façade is clearly baroque, its decoration inspired the architects of many Havana palaces. The classic French eye will not fail to notice the asymmetry of the side towers: the one on the left is narrower so that the alley that runs along its side is not closed. It is in this tower that the mechanism that operates the bells is located. Inside, the style is frankly neoclassical, following the modifications ordered in 1814 by Bishop Espada, a great defender and promoter of this style. Two rows of columns separate the central nave from the two side naves. The oil paintings, executed by the Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Vermay, also date from this period. The central altar and the tabernacle were decorated with wood carvings and gold ornaments by the Italian Bianchini, under the guidance of the Spaniard Antonio Sola. This carving and gold work was done in Rome. The three frescoes on the altar are the work of another Italian artist, Giuseppe Perovani. Finally, it should be noted that the story goes that the remains of Christopher Columbus lay for a long time in the central nave of the cathedral, at least until 1898, when they were moved to Seville.

Inaugurated on December 28, 1988, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the battle of Santa Clara, it is the only museum dedicated to Che. Photos, objects, documents and videos evoke his life from his birth to his death. His remains and those of seven companions assassinated in Bolivia on the orders of the United States, were transferred there in 1997, for the 30th anniversary of their death. In the memorial, we can see the coffins of Che and all his companions. It is rather sober but moving.

This site, chosen in 1819 to establish the new French colony, is the heart of the historic district. A rose window on the ground indicates the place designated by de Clouet. You will see the Triumphal Arch (1902), the only one of its kind in Cuba, and the white marble statue of Martí (1906), both commemorating the birth of the Cuban Republic. Two lions standing on high pedestals protect the entrance. You can also admire the majestic buildings surrounding the square. Ideal to sit in the shade and enjoy the moment.

You will not lose anything on the exchange… seen the quie of the place, the finesse of its sand and the colour of its water. This small corner of paradise is the perfect starting point for the other beaches.

Built in 1885 (inaugurated on September 8) at the request of Marta Abreu de Estévez, who was also responsible for the construction of the first free clinic in Santa Clara in 1878, the Teatro de la Carida (Theatre of Charity) is decorated with paintings by the Spaniard Camilo Zelaya. It is worth noting that the first temple in the city was located here: the Ermita de la Candelaria. Plays are regularly performed here and every Thursday night at 7 pm a concert is held in the entrance of the theater. The guided tour is interesting and highly recommended.

The stony path climbs dryly to the top. Once there, the watchman of the antenna may offer to give you a quick overview of the place. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, this watchtower was mainly used to warn the city of attacks from pirates or foreign powers. The panorama is truly breathtaking over Trinidad, the Sierra del Escambray, the Valley of the Ingenios and the Ancon peninsula. From the center of Trinidad, it takes 30 minutes to walk the 1.5 km of road with good shoes.

Housed in an old colonial house, built between 1827 and 1830, the museum features magnificent neoclassical murals by Cuban and Italian artists. It traces the history of Trinidad since its foundation: Indian archeological finds, the slave trade, the development of the sugar industry, the struggle for independence undertaken by the Trinitarios and other significant episodes in the city's culture, society and economy.

Wonder among wonders, the Nicho is one of the main jewels of the Escambray Valley. Little frequented by tourists who prefer to visit the valley from the south side, the site is most often immersed in a tranquility conducive to delight. Three waterfalls form magnificent natural pools that invite you to swim and enjoy the clarity and softness of the water. At the top of the hill, the view over the valley is breathtaking. A small corner of paradise 46 km east of Cienfuegos (vehicle required).