CENTRAL PARK

The birth of the Parque Central dates back to the 19th century, when it was part of the great extra-muros Paseo. Located on the border between Old Havana and the Centro Habana neighborhood, it reached its current dimensions - about 1,000 square meters - after the wall was torn down in 1877. Its current appearance dates back to 1927, when it was completely remodeled, especially due to the construction of the Capitol. Today, the Central Park is part of an interesting urban complex that includes buildings of great historical and artistic value. In the center stands the statue of José Martí. Designed by Cuban sculptor José Vilalta de Saavedra, it weighs 36 tons and is 10 meters high. The 28 palms evoke the date of birth of José Martí (January 28, 1853). This white marble monument, the first one dedicated to Cuba's national hero, was inaugurated by General Máximo Gómez, Martí's comrade in struggle, on February 24, 1905, on the tenth anniversary of the beginning of the last war of independence. Nowadays, as in the past, the park is a place of meetings, often noisy and agitated: this is where baseball fans, of which there are many, meet and defend their opinions, often with such ardor that you'll probably get the impression that they're arguing... Families also come to mingle with the park's population to enjoy an ice cream while taking in the fresh air at dusk. An iconic square.