Havana’s Architecture and Arts
The Colonial, Baroque and Neo-classical styles are mixed with buildings influenced by the international movements of Art Nouveau, Art Deco and more..
During the 19th century, Cuban architects began to look for a new style which would be the emblem of a rising new era and reflect the progress
This tour including the best colonial, neo-classic, art deco, art nouveau, eclecticism, modernism and revolutionary … you will discover the evolution of Old Havana and the distinct historical phases that it has lived through—from the Spanish-colonial era to contemporary times, located along parts of the promenade are more recently built hotels, providing the perfect combination of the colonial and the contemporary.
Itinerary
09:00 Visit the Private Art Galleries of famous contemporary painters in Cuba, like Zaida del Rio and others (depending on the ones available at the time).
Entrance to the Cuba Fine Arts Museum, particular to the Art Cuban collection Hall, explanation by a specialist.
Visit el Callejón de Hamel (Hamel Alley), the epicenter to the Cuban Afro-Culture, to be in contact with a very original street art gallery and Rumba dance (recommended for Sundays when performance is available).
12:30 Optional lunch (Informal meeting with some Cuban architects and designers to learn more about their experiences)
14:00 Visit the Prado Avenue, the Grand Theater of Havana, the School of Ballet, and the Capitol Building (included visit inside)
Continue to Colon Cemetery, one of the most historical cemetery of the world and the most significant in Latin American with more of 500 mausoleums, chapels and family vaults; visit some of the most relevant mansions of the Vedado on Paseo Avenue, President Avenue, 17 Street between others, visit the University of Havana, the Coppelia building, the Rampa, the first Hilton built outside USA in the fifties, the Museum of Decorative Arts and the Napoleonic Museum.
Then go to nearby Miramar and Siboney counties, visit the National School of Fine Arts considered the building more representative of the architecture trend in the sixties in Cuba, visit the Jaimanita and the art project known as Fusterlandia created by the painter Jose Fuster in Jaimanita.
Back to accommodation
Optional:
We recommended at night visit Art Factory a factory which was abandoned since at least 30 years by now, and recently by the private initiative of artist like X Alfonso and other famous artist in Cuba has been converted into a popular artist project, probably the center of culture activity in Havana at this time, where films are exhibited, arts showing, conferences being offered.
