The Capitolio was built in the style of the US Capitol in Washington DC in 1929-1932 by the dictator Machado in an attempt to impress his US paymasters with his loyalty. The white dome over a rotunda is 62 m high and inside there is a 17-m statue of Jupiter, representing the state. This is the tallest interior statue in Latin America and the third largest in the world. At the centre of the floor of the entrance hall is set a 24-carat diamond (or is it a fake?), which pinpoints zero for all distance measurements in Cuba. The interior has large halls and stately staircases, all most sumptuously decorated. It was initially used as the seat of parliament with the Senate and the House of Representatives meeting there, but they were dissolved after the Revolution. Now it houses the Cuban Academy of Sciences and the National Library of Science and Technology. Outside the Capitolio there are lots of old American cars waiting to offer taxi rides, as well as conventional taxis, cocotaxis, bicitaxis, etc.
Contact Departamento de Eventos, 7-8615519, to arrange pre-planned tours.
opening hours: daily 0900-1800 but often shuts early
address:
telephone: 7-861 0261
rates and features: CUC$3 to go in the halls, tours also available, guide CUC$1, camera and video charge CUC$2. Entry to just the Salón de los Pasos Perdidos is CUC$1 including photos and video. Entrance for visitors is to the left of the stairway. All bags have to be left at kiosk on the left as you go up the stairs
The Capitol, located in La Habana Vieja, ore is the flagship building of the city and was built in 1929. For its monolithic construction is currently considered within the ten most important buildings worldwide. It houses a bronze statue in the time it was done was the second largest indoor statue in the world but other eccentricities can be found in the building, as the diamond of 25 carats / job is embedded in the floor. Was placed there to indicate the zero kilometer national highway. Although of course, you can see now is a reproduction as had previously been stolen but fortunately regained. Its interior is an extravaganza, dominated by marble, onyx and basalt competing exquistas wood carvings and the jewelry. Today usually hosts conferences and conventions, but always open to the public at a reasonable price and can be taken inside the odd snack or maybe buy some beautiful work of craftsmanship that are sold in one of its rooms.
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Capitolio photos
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