CURIOSITIES ABOUT HAVANA
Photo credited to Gilberto Boanerges Gonzalez Garcia
By LaHabana.com
1.THE OLDEST CHURCH IN HAVANA
The original building was built in 1638 as a chapel for freed slaves and established around 1661 as the second parochial church of the city. Although very little or nothing remains of the building due to successive reconstructions and remodeling in the 18th and 19th centruries, in its general expression, the characteristics of the primitive building have been preserved.
Photo credited to Oratorio Monástico
2.THE OLDEST BUILDING IN USE IN HAVANA
The home of Antonio Hoces Carrillo is one of the best preserved 17th-century Havana mansions. It was located in the most important place in town, right across the former Main Parochial Church. It is now home to the Mural Painting Museum.
Photo credited to www.arquitecturahabana.org
3. THE SMALLEST STREET IN HAVANA
The smallest street in Havana, popularly known as Callejón del Templete (Templete Alley), is only 20 meters long and 3 meters wide (65 feet long by 10 feet wide). It is situated behind El Templete, a monument that commemorates the place where the city of San Cristóbal de La Habana was founded and the first mass was held.
Photo credited to www.todocubaonline.com
4. THE MOST VISITED GRAVE IN HAVANA
The grave of Amelia Goyri de la Hoz, popularly known as La Milagrosa (The Miraculous One), is a scared place, venerated and respected by believers and nonbelievers alike. Her image is well-known in Cuba and abroad. Amelia died from eclampsia and the legend goes that she was buried together with her stillborn baby at her feet. When her tomb was opened some years later, the dead child was found in Amelia’s arms. Since then, the mother has been the center of popular myth and is celebrated as the Miraculous One, symbolizing eternal hope.
Photo credited to Lina and Andres
5. THE OLDEST POSTBOX IN CUBA
The oldest postbox in the Island is built into the stone façade of the former home of the Marquis and Marquise de Arcos, located in Cathedral Square. Sculpted in stone, the mailbox represents the Greek tragic mask, with the aperture of the mouth serving to deposit the mail.
An interesting fact is that the mask-postbox continues to serve its original purpose.
Photo credited to www.cubaconecta.com
6. THE FIRST AQUEDUCT IN HAVANA
The oldest postbox in the Island is built into the stone façade of the former home of the Marquis and Marquise de Arcos, located in Cathedral Square.
Sculpted in stone, the mailbox represents the Greek tragic mask, with the aperture of the mouth serving to deposit the mail. An interesting fact is that the mask-postbox continues to serve its original purpose.
Photo credited to www.wikipedia.org
7. THE LARGEST INDOOR STATUE IN CUBA
The Statue of the Republic (Estatua de la República) by Italian sculptor Angelo Zanelli is located in the foyer of the Capitol Building in Havana, exactly beneath the dome. Cast in bronze in Rome, it is covered with 22 carat gold leaf and weighs 49 tons. At 17.54 meters tall, it is the third highest statute under cover in the world.
Photo credited to Jorge Luis Baños