| Officially named as Paseo de Marti for a decree that | | | | stage, it was proved that the cannons were no |
| issued that all the main avenues or streets in Cuba | | | | longer necessary and they were melted and used to |
| should carry the names of the Cuban heroes, El | | | | create the sculptures of the lions that today you can |
| Paseo del Prado is the name that among Cubans one | | | | see while you are walking along the avenue during |
| of the greatest avenues in Cuba receives. | | | | your staying in Havana. These lions are the most |
| The Paseo del Prado is one of the prettiest main | | | | known feature that the Paseo del Prado has. |
| streets in the old part of the city. It begins at the | | | | At the beginning of the construction, the idea was |
| Central Park Hotel and leads down to the seafront | | | | that this Paseo would resemble the Paseo del Prado |
| known as the Malecon, which gives this avenue its | | | | in Madrid, but it turned out to be smaller both in |
| reputation. A wide walkway lined with trees and | | | | width and length, even though it did stand alongside |
| stone benches bisects the street, while in either side | | | | the one in Madrid. Therefore, in this way the desire |
| you can see the columns and arches of the mostly | | | | of the Spanish that decided to took permanent |
| residential neocolonial balcony buildings, painted in a | | | | residence in the island was fulfilled and their dream of |
| whole host of colors. | | | | having a Paseo came true. |
| The works of this impressive boulevard began out | | | | The Paseo is in the very touristic center of Old |
| walls in 1770 (it is important to say that what is now | | | | Havana. Despite of which, it still belongs to the locals |
| the Old Havana was enclosed with walls and its doors | | | | and it is usually overrun with newspaper sellers, |
| were closed at 9 o'clock every day, a tradition that | | | | Cubans chattering, children playing ball games, artists |
| still remains and the ceremony is known as El | | | | that sell their paintings, and its neighbors. If you want |
| Cañonazo) and it was finished in the middle of | | | | to have the knowledge of being along with Cubans, |
| 1830 during the term of office of Captain Miguel | | | | to talk to them, to share, here you can have the |
| Tacon. | | | | opportunity. Walking alongside the street you can |
| In 1928 the statues of the lions were included all | | | | even be part of the romance that this street holds |
| along the avenue. These lions have a funny story. | | | | and find in every corner a new experience. |
| Havana was the most important village of Spain in | | | | Also, you may find little cafés to rest and have |
| the New World, so it was necessary to protect it | | | | the best Cuban-made coffee, highly praised in the |
| from corsairs and pirates. Spain decided then to | | | | world for its flavor; the best hotels in the city and |
| fortify the bay and bought hundreds of cannons to | | | | the warmth of the Cuban people. |
| protect and defend the village. When the neo-colonial | | | | |