Havana, once the town of San Cristobal de La Habana, dresses up to celebrate the 500th anniversary of its foundation. Solways Cuba invites you among music, colors, art, culture, dance, features that distinguish us as a nation and pure Cubanness, to share this magical, unique and unrepeatable event.
Days 1
Accommodation in BB plan in the selected hotel of the Melia Hotels International chain.
Days 2
From 08:30, customers will be picked up at the hotel lobby to start a tour of the capital accompanied by a guide, who will explain the details of the foundational origins, culture, history and heritage of a city that celebrates its important anniversary.
This road begins with a panoramic walk through the modern area of Havana, the Vedado neighborhood, which is where the largest activity in the city is concentrated, with a variety of restaurants, nightclubs, cinemas, state institutions, airlines and hotels. Here you can visit with time for photos: the Civic Square or Revolution Square as a center of interest and the main government buildings; the University of Havana, declared a National Monument in 1978 with its imposing Alma Mater sculpture on the steps.
The visit to the cultural project Callejon de Hamel continues: entertaining space where murals, paintings, sculptures and installations of contemporary art, music and drums represent the temple of Afro-Cuban culture. It is one of the most active places in the city and the engine of cultural life in Centro Habana, in the neighborhood of Cayo Hueso.
Customers will enjoy a special tour of the iconic Havana Malecon, with its 8 km bathed in the Caribbean Sea. The Paseo del Prado is the next destination, with its wonderful and historic buildings, such as the newly remodeled Havana Capitol, similar to the Washington D.C Capitol, but one meter higher, one meter wider, one meter longer. Its construction ended in 1929 and became one of the most emblematic buildings in Havana and Cuba. Formerly it was the seat of the Cuban Congress, but since 1959 it has hosted the Cuban Academy of Sciences. On the top floor, right in the center under the dome, keep a brand new 25-carat diamond. As a curiosity, A tarja in the Capitol marks Kilometer 0 that defines the road distance between Havana and any other city in the country is calculated from this same point.
The Great Theater of Havana Alicia Alonso was inaugurated in 1914, owes its name in honor of the recently deceased Prima Ballerina Assoluta of Cuba, built in neo-baroque style, took as a model the constructions of the European baroque, so there are many carvings and stone sculptures. The tour continue to the Havana Rail Terminal considered since 1993 National Monument, and culminates in the Alameda de Paula the first seafront promenade of the Cuban capital built in 1777.
We are already in the heart of Old Havana and we will take a walking tour of the places where the Villa de San Cristobal de la Habana began to be founded, Plaza de Armas is the oldest square of the four colonial squares of Old Havana , being drawn around 1520. It was called Church Square, because it housed the Main Parish Temple, which was demolished in 1770 and takes its current name in the 16th century, when the colonial governor began using this place to take out military exercises. Today is an interesting market for new and 2nd hand books.
The Plaza Vieja was designed in 1559, being the most eclectic square from the architectural point of view where the Cuban baroque coexists with the Gaudinian-inspired Art Nouveau. It was originally called Plaza Nueva and was used to perform military exercises. Then, it was used as an open-air market and, today it is full of restaurants, cafes, bars and breweries.
Being the third to be built in the year 1628, San Francisco de Asis Square located behind the Plaza de Armas and the Plaza Vieja, owed its name to the establishment of the Franciscan religious order, which began the rise of a humble convent in the year 1575.
The Plaza de La Catedral, the newest of the four squares, made in the year 1700, being an authentic museum of the Cuban baroque, since all the buildings located in it, including the Cathedral, are from the 18th century. In it is La Catedral de La Habana, it began to be built in 1748. It is currently considered one of the most beautiful and sober religious buildings of the American Baroque.
Stop for lunch at a local restaurant with 1 liquid.
Return to the Camino with a visit to the exterior areas of the Palace of Handicrafts, a former Baroque-style palace from the end of the 18th century and a visit to the Social Project Callejon de los Peluqueros. Its creator, the stylist Gilberto Valladares, known as "Papito" revitalized the Havana neighborhood of "Santo Ángel" with his Arte Corte Project. This route takes us to the Loma del Ángel neighborhood, with its cobbled streets that inspired the writer Cirilo Villaverde in the nineteenth century in his famous novel “Cecilia Valdes” and for his fame in this century was the scene of multiple shots of the film “Fast and furious 8”.
We return to buses heading to the residential neighborhood Miramar most elegant and modern sector of the Capital. In this area the most honorable and powerful families of Havana built luxurious residences, also Catholic temples and sports areas that are used to this day. We will reach the northwestern end of the Cuban capital where the project of the ceramic artist - draftsman - painter and engraver Fuster: “Fusterlandia” is located in the area of Jaimanitas, with its colorful mosaics and capricious sculptures that cover houses and gardens, transforming the humble neighborhood in an explosion of art and creativity.
Return to the hotel and free night, Suggestions? Join the 500th Anniversary celebration.
Starting at 9:00 pm with the legendary “Sound of the cannon shot” tradition that begins at the end of the 17th century when Havana, to protect itself from the frequent sieges of corsairs and pirates, was surrounded by a wall whose doors closed and that shot meant the closing of the doors, the festival begins in a big way until the sun rises. Havana's Malecon from the San Francisco de Asis church and to the entrance of the 5th Avenue tunnel becomes a giant cultural space that will entertain all who visit us in this celebration. You will enjoy a varied gastronomic offer, concerts of songs dedicated to Havana, popular dance music with presentation of Salsa Dancing Groups, Trova, electronic and fusion music, poetry, street theater and parades. At 12:00 pm there will be a stop to broadcast live and visualize through the screens, the ceremony of the salvos from La Cabaña and fireworks show, a special toast will be held in celebration of the birthday of the city and continue the party.
Days 3
Free day to participate in the wide cultural billboard. Do you like reading? Your destination is a wooden street of the Palace of the General Captains. Do you prefer music, tradition and culture? Your steps will take you to Obispo Street where you will live its history and much more. Do you want to be part of a purely Havana tradition? Your appointment is at the foot of the Ceiba del Templete, where you will meet and share the ritual of the three turns to the sacred tree. And closing the night Concert "Go 500 in a big way and we continue", in the famous corner of Malecon and 23rd street. You want a track / Join my activity, the train of Cuba.
Days 4
We invite you to visit other tourist destinations of our magical island or continue your return trip to your country. There will always be a reason to return to Havana, nostalgia take it with you, therefore, we do not want it to be a "See you later" but a "See you soon" !!.
