Hotels - Hostal Valencia

About  Hostal Valencia

The Hostal Valencia was the first Old Havana mansion to be converted by the Office of the City Historian into an hotel. Originally constructed for Alderman Sotolongo, a member of Havana’s Town Council, a large part of the building had actually collapsed by the time it reached the head of the queue for restoration – the remainder was braced against surrounding edifices with a complicated structure of wooden scaffolding.

Once this had been removed and the ruins consolidated, the collapsed section was rebuilt and balcony railings in this area have been left plain to indicate to architectural historians which part is restoration and which recreation. The Hostal Valencia is modest in style compared to establishments such as the Santa Isabel and the Saratoga, but its charm and very acceptable prices ensure an almost constant waiting list for bookings. 

Entering the Valencia, one passes through impressive colonial portals to a large hall which in spite of having been built at the end of the eighteenth century has a distinctly seventeenth century atmosphere; this is carried on throughout the general layout of the house and such details as the terracotta-tiled staircase, enormous mahogany beams and cobbled courtyard which is framed by bright green ferns and long strands of malanga vine trailing down from the upper floors.

The establishment’s two bars continue the general impression of antiquity with low ceilings and dim lighting so that one fully expects a pirate to come lurching out of the gloom clutching a half-drunk bottle of rum and muttering about dead men’s chests.

The people who work at the Valencia are especially kind and helpful and greet clients like old friends, which they generally are as many people return to the hotel again and again. The restaurant on the corner is renowned for its huge iron pans of prizewinning paella and the coffee from the courtyard bar is sublime.

 

Carretera de La Cabana, Habana del Este

Tres Reyes del Morro Castle

Perhaps the most iconic of all Cuban fortresses. Its construction began in 1589 and was completed in 1630, playing a key role in the defence of Havana against raids by corsairs and pirates.  When the English attacked and captured Havana in the year 1762, the castle was damaged and later as soon as Spain took power again it was rebuilt and modernized. A lighthouse was added to the Morro in 1764. Standing 45 metres above sea level, it has become an unmistakeable symbol of Havana.

Calle Inquisidor e/ Muralla y Teniente Rey, Habana Vieja

Old Square

The neighbors of the town insisted to the town council on the need to create a new public square for their amusement. In 1587, the town council decided to use as a public square the area behind the Convento de San Francisco, which was being built at the time. During the latter decades of the 16th century, this square was called the Plaza Nueva (new square), but from the 18th century onwards, once the Plaza del Cristo had been built, it began to become known as the Plaza Vieja (old square). The most remarkable feature of this square are the buildings around it, with their unquestionable historical and artistic importance of having been the blueprint for a style of architecture which, along with certain developments, subsequently spread throughout the city and characterised the Cuban architecture of the 18th century.

Oficios, e/ Amargura y Churruca, Habana Vieja

San Francisco de Asís Church and Convent

The San Francisco de Asís Church and Convent is the current scenario of the richest cultural traditions. This is one of the most extraordinary convent and church complex of the colonial time. The construction of the current set dates from 1738, and it replaced a more modest one completed in 1591. After a restoration in the nineties, the architectural group has harbored, also, a concert hall and the Holy, Sacred and Religious Art museums. The most significant element of the Church is the Tower 42 meters of height, second in altitude at the colonial time. 

Oficios, e/ Amargura y Churruca, Habana Vieja

San Francisco de Asís Square

This square dates back to the first half of the 17th century. Its location, just a few metres from the bay, led to it becoming an important trading square over the years. It is said that around the year 1600 the first fountain of the city could be seen at this square. In 1836 it was replaced by a beautiful fountain made of white Carrara marble by Giuseppe Gaggini, under the good auspices of the Villanueva Count. This fountain is called Fuente de los Leones (Lions Fountain). On its paved area stand two noteworthy buildings: the Monastery and Basilica of San Francisco de Asís, which today houses the Museum of Religious Art and a concert hall. It is also where the Lonja del Comercio (Chamber of Commerce) is located, inspired by Spanish Renaissance architecture and topped by a dome on which a sculpture of the god Mercury stands. Among the houses built around the plaza, the house of the Arostegui family, residence of the Captain Generals until the completion of the City Hall at the end of the 18th century, was erected.

Be the first to write a review

Write a review

Title

Your review

What sort of Trip was this?

  • Business
  • Couples
  • Family
  • Friends
  • Solo

When did you travel?

Add a tip to help travelers choose a good room (Optional)

Do you have photos to share? (Optional)

Name

Email

Skedio, S.L. CIF: B66173931. # Travel Agency Licence: GC-3667 © 2025 Enjoytravel Corporate, All rights reserved