The Seven Wonders Of Havana - Things To Do In Cuba's Glorious Capital

Recently, for the first time in over 2,200				main factories, La Corona and Romeo y Julieta
years the seven wonders of the world were				have shops attached which allow visitors to
reassessed. Over 100 million people voted and				purchase cigars as souvenirs.
decided that the Great Wall of China, Rome's
Colosseum, Chichen Itza in Mexico, Petra in				Museo de la Ciudad
Jordan, Machu Picchu in Peru, Rio's Christ
the Redeemer and the Taj Mahal would make the				The building that now houses Havana's museum
best new wonders.				treasures has a past that predates the
				revolution and evokes images of when Cuba was
Certainly narrowing down the finalists from				a non-Communist state. The building once
an initial list of hundreds can have been no				housed the island's colonial governors and
easy task - most countries can probably				was the palace of the Captains General. Built
compile a list of seven themselves. Cuba,				in 1791, the museum's exhibits give a feel of
which is of course my speciality, has many				the history of Havana - from the city's
architectural and cultural triumphs worthy of				foundation to the present day. The museum
celebration. Hell, even Havana itself has				naturally devotes a sizable section to the
enough aesthetic wonder and cultural heritage				Cuban wars for national independence, but
for me to wax lyrical for several pages. In				also houses a diverse range of other exhibits
the interests of brevity and in matching the				showcasing the island's art, porcelain,
arbitrary figure placed on the number of				paintings, furniture, folklore and
wonders allowed in one world, I shall limit				archaeology.
my list to seven sites worth examining on a
Havana holiday.				Capitolio Nacional

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present (in no				An important landmark in the centre of
particular order)				Havana, the Capitolio Nacional is an
				impressive site. It looks remarkably similar
The Seven Wonders of Havana				to the US Capitol in Washington DC, and is
				now home to the National Library and Academy
Plaza de la RevoluciÃ³n				of Sciences. Some of its rooms are also used
				for state events, in a nod to its history
The enormous square has seen many political				where it once seated members of the Cuban
rallies and the feel of history and				congress. Directly underneath the memorable
importance of the area is tangible. The				dome, an imitation 24 carat diamond is set
square's podium has seen many important				into the floor, which measures the distances
political speeches from Fidel Castro and				between Havana and all Cuba's other sites.
other prominent figures on important days in
the Cuban calendar. While Castro is infamous				Habana Vieja
for his long speeches, the public events
always prove popular, attracting over				The old city was founded in 1519, and was
1,000,000 Cubans over the years.				often a target for pirates which explains the
				dilapidated, yet still imposing, remains of
The square is dominated by the impressive				Havana's city walls. Nowadays the old city
JosÃ© MartÃ memorial - a tower in honour				includes museums, hotels, shops and
of a national hero killed in the 1895 Second				restaurants to line the picturesque cobble
war of Independence. At 138 feet high, the				stoned streets. The plazas are marked by
imposing structure is the highest point in				meticulously restored colonial buildings and
the city and visitors may take a lift to the				attractive churches, which make the perfect
very top of the building. Behind the memorial				backdrop for Havana's old city life as it
are the offices of Fidel Castro himself, and				goes by. The region also includes La
opposite is the iconic image of Che Guevara				Bodeguita Del Medio - a bar made famous
that marks the Ministry of the Interior's				thanks to its patronage by Mr Ernest
building - a staple sight on any Havana				Hemingway.
holiday.
				Museo de la RevoluciÃ³n
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
				What used to be the Presidential Palace and
This modern art museum is divided into two				Cuban Government's HQ is now fittingly a
distinct part. The CollecciÃ³n de Arte				museum of the revolution that saw them
Cubano is dedicated to Cuban art created				ousted. The building is still aesthetically
between the 16th and 20th century, while The				astounding, but the insides have changed to
CollecciÃ³n de Arte Universal has a far				house pieces, photography and documents
wider scope. It includes art from Italian,				pertaining to the Cuban Revolution. The
French and Dutch painters as well as				building isn't the only imposing sight upon
including artefacts from Latin America and				approach to the museum - out the front is the
ancient Greece.				tank driven by Fidel Castro during the Bay of
				Pigs battle, and behind is the yacht that
Cigar Factories				brought Che Guevara and Fidel Castro from
				Mexico to Cuba in 1956.
Cuba is practically synonymous with the word
"cigars" and a visit to one of the three				Aside from these main aesthetic Cuban
major Cuban cigar factories in Havana can				wonders, there are countless other things to
give a good indication as to why. The three				do in Havana. It is truly a magnificent city
main factories give tours which allow the				- a one of a kind mixture of 1950s America
visitors to see the hand rolled cigars in				and Caribbean lifestyle. If you are
production. Partagas is the oldest factory				considering a holiday to Havana, this list
(founded in 1827) and keeping with tradition				will really help you get into the Cuban
hires a reader to entertain the workers by				spirit and gain an insight into the rich
reading aloud. Partagas and the two other				history of the city.

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Spend your holiday in Cuba

The Seven Wonders Of Havana - Things To Do In Cuba's Glorious Capital