Touring the most baroque Square in Old Havana [ENG/ESP]
Hello, my fellow travelers, today I want to share with you an enriching tour of one of the jewels of Old Havana: Cathedral Square, the quintessential Baroque square, a place that seems straight out of a colonial fairy tale, but with a pure Cuban flavor. Join me!
The square is a large cobblestone space surrounded by important buildings that belonged to counts and marquises of the colonial era. All have a distinguished history in the development of the city.
The most notable among them all is the imposing Cathedral, which was the last to be built in this square at the end of the 18th century, but is the purest example of Cuban Baroque style.
The cathedral's façade, with its unique design of asymmetrical towers, is a masterpiece of colonial art. Built with coastal stones, it is a true relic, containing marine fossil remains on the façade. Its interior is of unparalleled beauty.
The House of the Count of Casa Bayona is the oldest building in the square, built in 1720. It is located directly opposite the cathedral. It is a two-story building with balconies on the upper floor featuring large stained-glass windows and a tiled roof characteristic of the period. It is a privilege to enter and admire its collection of furniture and decorative objects from the 18th and 19th centuries.
On one side are two important contiguous houses from the mid-18th century that share a large entrance on the entire side facing the square. Both have another entrance on Mercaderes Street. The House of Lombillo also has a third entrance on Empedrado Street.
The House of the Marquis of Arcos functioned as a post office in the 19th century, with the mask-shaped stone mailbox still preserved on the wall facing Mercaderes Street. Since 1844, it has been linked to music and art as the headquarters of the Artistic and Literary Lyceum of Havana, a function that continues to this day.
The House of the Marquis of Aguas Claras is located on the other side and also stands out for its wide portal with strong columns, semicircular arches, and its original stained-glass windows in vibrant colors in its upper windows.
This beautiful plaza is bustling with cultural spaces such as graphic design studios and art galleries. The Víctor Manuel Gallery offers a wide range of Cuban artwork for sale, such as paintings, wood carvings, jewelry, ceramics, and handicrafts, all with a Cuban touch, a chance to take home a souvenir of this beautiful place.
Since 2017, the plaza has had a bronze admirer next to one of the colonial columns. It is Antonio Gades, a great Spanish flamenco dancer who loved Cuba so much that he dedicated a masterful version of the ballet "Giselle" to it. José Villa Soberón immortalized him, deep in thought and with his contemplative gaze toward the Cathedral.
Today, the square is one of Havana's most visited spots, where tourists and locals mingle, enjoying its architecture, restaurants, and the musical atmosphere that frequently fills the air.
Women dressed in colonial costumes posing for photos are another way to take home a wonderful souvenir.
Young girls celebrating their 15th birthday choose this beautiful location to take photos in their colonial-style costumes, a custom that has become deeply rooted in Cuban culture.
Cathedral Square is a vibrant space where history, art, and contemporary culture intertwine, offering a unique experience. Be sure to visit it; it's a unique experience you shouldn't miss if you're in the city.
See you soon!
Historical data was found on this site.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOLRecorriendo la plaza más barroca de la Habana Vieja
Hola mis amigos viajeros, hoy les quiero compartir un enriquecedor recorrido por una de las joyas de La Habana Vieja: la Plaza de la Catedral, que es la plaza barroca por excelencia, un lugar que parece sacado de un cuento colonial, pero con puro sabor cubano. ¡Acompañenme!
La plaza es un gran espacio adoquinado que está rodeado de importantes edificios que pertenecieron a condes y marqueses de la época colonial. Todos tienen una destacada historia dentro del desarrollo de la ciudad.
Destaca entre todos, la imponente Catedral que fue la última en componer esta Plaza a finales del siglo XVIII, pero es el más puro ejemplo de estilo barroco cubano.
La fachada de la catedral, con su singular diseño de torres asimétricas es una obra maestra del arte colonial. Construida con piedras del litoral es una verdadera reliquia al contener restos fósiles marinos en la fachada. En su interior es de una belleza sin igual.
La Casa del Conde de Casa Bayona es la más antigua de la plaza, construida en 1720. Está situada justo al frente de la catedral. Es una construcción de dos plantas con balcones en la planta superior provistos de amplias ventanas con vitrales y su techo de tejas característicos de la época.
Es un privilegio poder entrar y contemplar su colección de muebles y objetos decorativos de los siglos XVIII y XIX.
En uno de los laterales están dos importantes casas continuas de mediados del siglo XVIII que comparten un gran portal por todo el lado que da a la plaza y además ambas tienen otra entrada por la calle Mercaderes. La Casa de Lombillo tiene también una tercera entrada por la calle Empedrado.
La Casa del Marqués de Arcos, funcionó como oficina postal en el siglo XIX, conservándose aún el buzón de piedra en forma de máscara en su pared en la fachada que da para la calle Mercaderes. Desde 1844 está vinculada con la música y el arte porque es la sede del Liceo Artístico y Literario de La Habana, aún perdura esta función hasta nuestros días.
La Casa del Marqués de Aguas Claras está situada en el otro y destaca también por su amplio portal con fuertes columnas, arcos de medio punto y sus vitrales originales de colores vibrantes en sus ventanas superiores.
Esta bella Plaza tiene mucha vida con espacios culturales como talleres de gráfica y galerías de arte. La Galería Víctor Manuel ofrece una gran gama de obras de arte cubano en venta, tales como pinturas, talla de madera, joyas, cerámica y artesanías, todas con el sello de cubanía, una oportunidad de llevarse un recuerdo de este hermoso sitio.
Desde el 2017 la plaza tiene un admirador de bronce, junto a una de las columnas coloniales, es Antonio Gades, quien fue un gran bailarín de flamenco español y amaba tanto a Cuba que le dedicó una magistral versión del ballet "Giselle". José Villa Soberón lo inmortalizó sumido en sus pensamientos y su mirada contemplativa hacia la Catedral.
Hoy, la plaza es uno de los puntos más visitados de La Habana, donde turistas y locales se mezclan disfrutando de su arquitectura, restaurantes y el ambiente musical que frecuentemente llena el aire.
Las mujeres vestidas con trajes coloniales que posan para fotos es otra opción de llevarte un buen recuerdo.
Las jovencitas que cumplen sus 15 años escogen esta hermosa localidad para tomarse fotos con sus trajes de estilo colonial, una costumbre que se ha arraigado en la cultura cubana.
La Plaza de la Catedral es un espacio vivo donde historia, arte y cultura contemporánea se entrelazan, ofreciendo una experiencia única. Anímate a visitarla, es una experiencia única imperdible si estas en esta ciudad.
¡Hasta pronto!
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¡Qué maravilla, amiga @mayramalu ! 😍 Esta plaza es la fiel representación del barroco en Cuba. Tus fotos capturan perfectamente la esencia colonial y ese aire mágico que tiene la Habana Vieja. Gracias por llevarnos contigo en este recorrido tan especial. Sigue explorando y compartiendonos tenemos lugares hermosos 😍😘
Wow this is great; complete historical map of the colonian master's Art's and cultural house's!, Congratulations.
Hiya, @lauramica here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Travel Digest #2647.
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Saludos @mayramalu, que hermoso recorrido, por la Habana, la arquitectura es una gran representación del arte barroco, lindas fotos.
Feliz sábado!