Five things to see in Vedado, Havana

Vedado is a busy district of Havana, the hundreds of blocks of flats stand next to its wide avenues. It’s a melting pot of different architecture styles from ugly high houses built in the 50s to crumbly neo-classical palaces that have seen better days.

Vedado is the home of several government offices and the University of Havana. The most important avenue is the Calle 23 (23^rd Street), but many still know it as La Rampa.

Let’s go on a virtual tour and explore the five most important spots of this bustling part of the capital.

Columbus Necropolis

In one of the biggest cemeteries of the world we can find more than 2,000,000 graves. The necropolis was established in 1886, designed by a Spanish architect, Calixto de Loira. From the sky it looks like a whole town was constructed for the dead. It consists of numbered streets forming a grid and hiding wonderful alleys and marble cenotaphs. Besides the ornate tombs of famous Cubans (like General Máximo Gómez, chess champion José Raúl Capablanca or composer Amadeo Roldán y Cardes) several monuments are located in the graveyard (for example monuments of firemen, baseball players or medics).

Columbus Necropolis

Plaza De La Revolución with Monument of José Martí

The huge square was planned and constructed in 1952; most of the surrounding buildings are from this period too. Mass meetings of Havana, state celebrations are always held here usually with not less than 1,000,000 Cubans participating in them. 

At the Revolution Square stands the 120 meters high monument of José Martí, national hero of Cuba. From its top the stunning view of the city unfolds before us. Memorial museum of José Martí is located at the bottom of the monument showcasing the personal belongings of the famous revolutionist.

Hotel Nacional de Cuba

One of the most elegant hotels in Havana is still filled with the atmosphere of the 30s when world-famous celebrities stayed here. Visit the garden, grab a cold mojito and let you be amazed by the panorama of the Malecón. (Book a room in this five star Havana hotel so you can discover the whole district easily. Don’t miss the Parisien Cabaret, a great revue show of the hotel in the evening.)

Museum of Decorative Arts

In the 20^th century one of the wealthiest heiress of Cuba, Countess De Revilla De Camargó was living in the building that later became a museum. She collected works of art and organized great social gatherings. Nowadays visitors can see wonderful works of art from the Far-East and Europe in the museum, like a former desk of Marie Antoinette and furniture from the times of Louis XIV., but the luxury tableware of Fulgencio de Batista is also among the objects.

Museum of Decorative Arts

Malecón Market

The busy market is a good place to buy arts and crafts, books, memories and souvenirs for our family members. Don’t let the cigar vendors to seduce you, it’s always recommended to buy such products from official shops.