By: Jose Mauricio Maurette

Most likely the most significant and stunning building in Havana City is the Capitol building. A visit to this amazing estate of the art palace is something you should not miss while visiting Havana.

Only few connoisseurs of the Cuban history know that the very first Botanical Garden in Cuba in the 19 Century was located in the land today occupied by the Capitol building.

The development project of the Capitol did not begin until 1926 due to a great deal of political instability and complexity of the project it self. Once it started it only took 3 years to be finished into the same shape that visitors can admire today.

The grand structure was unveiled on Thursday May 20 just after mid day with the attendance of the president of the Republic of Cuba and the rest of the government cabinet ruling the island at that time.

The team that participated in the carrying out of the definitive plans of the Capitol was also integrated by engineers and Cuban architects under the artistic direction and technique of the architect Eugenio Raynieri Piedra. Its total cost was about 17 million pesos, equivalent to the same quantity in dollars.

This building calls for the attention of anyone passing by for its stunning dimensions and shapes. It seconds The Squares of the Revolution as the highest point in capital. Its design resembles those of the Capitol of Washington, The Basilica di San Pietro in Rome and San Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Another detail that attracts is the central piazza, supported by 17 ionic columns of granite. In it, the three big brass doors that give access to the main floor and the bas-reliefs stand out due to its beauty.

The Capitol of Havana has more than 7 decades of having been founded already. The monumental building that does not have any similar in other parts of the world and that it is considered as the third in importance for their monolithic construction, constitutes the only of its type built in this century.

From the Capitol of Havana -that is not national -, the kilometer 0 of all the highways of the country begins. It was designed so that in it the two chambers of the legislative body of the Republic worked all the sessions until 1959.

The statue of the Republic of Cuba, inspired in the Havanan model Lily Vlty, has the third place in the world of the highest sculptures indoors. It was installed in 1929, in the room of the Lost Steps (Saln de los Pasos Perdidos). It was made by Angelo Zanelli who also used this model to sculpt the statues of the central piazza.

Stopping over at the Capitol of Havana is just a remarkable journey back in history. In its quarters you will discover lots of true stories and anecdotes, concealed behind its pillars. Your holiday will not be fulfilled without a touch of History in Havana and this building certainly is a must.

Article Source: http://www.articlebankonline.com

Jose Mauricio is a Travel Consultant and loves to share his experiences in Cuba with the reader.. He is natural from the Capital of Cuba and has a wealth of knowledge about how to make your holiday in havana an unforgettable experience.

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