103 Amargura St. on the corner of San Ignacio St., Old Havana ,
Havana, Cuba
(+53) 78608280
yes
About
Raquel
Located in a wonderfully idiosyncratic building with a neo-Churrigueresque façade and tendrils of Art Nouveau wrought iron decoration, the Hotel Raquel contains further delightful design eccentricities including a vast stained glass canopy roof and a watchtower from which one can look out over the streets and squares of Old Havana. Many of the rooms have biblical names and besides the hotel being called The Rachel there are decorative references to the Bible and to the Jewish faith throughout the building, which was restored.
It is now run by the Office of the City Historian of Havana, so all its profits are reinvested in the restoration of the city’s historical centre.
It stands very near Plaza Vieja and the Plaza de San Francisco, and is only a few minutes’ walk from all the other main attractions in Old Havana.
San Ignacio No.61 (Plaza de la Catedral), Habana Vieja, La Habana
Colonial Art Museum
The Museo de Arte Colonial (Colonial Art Museum) is housed within the oldest construction in Old Havana, the Condes de Casa Bayona Palace, a mansion rebuilt in 1720 by Cuban Governor, Don Luis Chachón. The palace’s Classical patio and coffered ceiling made intricately of wood stand out within this construction. The palace boasts a wonderful location, right in front of the San Cristóbal de La Habana Cathedral. This small museum has a Colonial furniture and decorative art exhibition, amongst which will stand out some pottery with Colonial Cuba motifs, as well as several scenes of Colonial dining rooms and a fantastic collection of ornamental flowers.
Calle Mercaderes No. 160 e/ Lamaprilla y Obrapia, Habana Vieja, La Habana
Simón Bolívar Museum
The Simón Bolívar Museum is situated within an old Neoclassical palace dating back to between 1806 and 1817., right in front of the bronze statue of Latin America’s liberator, in Old Havana. This museum in honor of Simón Bolívar was opened July 24th 1993, coinciding with the anniversary of his birth. It has permanent exhibitions dealing with the history of the Bolivarian nation and its main figures of independence. The museum also houses a great library with important book collections and Latin-American documents.
Plaza de Armas, Habana Vieja
The Templete
The Templete, a small neo-classical style construction, was built in the second half of the 18th Century. It is located in Plaza de Armas. This was the site where the first public mass was celebrated and also the site of the first town council of the nascent town of San Cristóbal de La Habana. The Templete resembles a Doric temple and houses three commemorative canvasses by the famous French painter Juan Bautista Vermey. One of the walls exhibits the plate that declares Old Havana a World Heritage Site.
Calle Industria No. 520, e/ Barcelona y Dragones, Centro Habana, La Habana
Real Fábrica de Tabacos Partagás
The Real Fábrica de Tabacos Partagás (Partagás Royal Tobacco Factory), located in the north of Fraternidad Park, one of the oldest and more famous tobacco factories in Havana. It was founded in 1845 by the Spanish Jaime Partagás. Partagas was at the same time, owner of some tobacco plantations in the region of Vuelta Abajo. This is the most visited factory in the country. When you visit it in group you’ll discover how they do separate and classify the leaves in the ground floor; and how they do roll, press, adorn, and wrap the cigars in the upper floors. Currently there are around 500 workers on it, rolling cigars for well-known brands like Montecristo or Cohíba. The factory also houses a sales room, where you’ll be able to choose among a great variety of Havana cigars, and a bar.
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