In 2004, almost twenty years ago, I was in Cuba for a week. It was my first ever all-inclusive trip and I was in Varadero. And during the week, I undertook a day journey to the capital Havana and took many photos. Here is Havana in photos in 2004.
They were shot almost twenty years ago and I have wondered how Havana looks like now.
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El Capitolio Nacional in Havana in 2004
Perhaps the most fascinating and important building in the country is the El Capitolio Nacional.
It was built by the former dictator Gerardo Machado in 1926 and it took three years and a whopping USD 17 million (at that time) to finish. Cuba was wealthy from its sugar trade at that time.
The limestone-and-block granite building contains a number of architectural marvels including the dome which is 62 meters long and is made of stone. A bronze statue sculpted by the 16th century Flemish-Italian sculptor Giambologna sits atop the dome.
Two giant statues, El Trabajo (Work) and La Virtud Tutelar (the Guardian Virtue) sculpted by the Italian sculptor Angelo Zanelli stand at the top of the 55 steps that lead to the entrance of the building.
Though it resembles the US Capitol in Washington DC, it was modeled on the Pantheon in the French capital Paris.
When it was built, the country’s political system, the Congress, was headquartered there.
But after the Cuban revolution in 1959, the Congress was abolished and the building became the head office of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Library of Science and Technology.
After this photo was taken, it went a major renovation between 2013 and 2019.
This is currently a UNESCO heritage site.
The El Trabajo Statue
This is a sideway photo of the El Trabajo (Work) statue which is one of the two statues standing at the top of the 55 stairs that lead to the entrance of the El Capitolio Nacional.
The bronze statues stand at 6.70m and was sculpted by the Italian sculptor Angelo Zanelli. It symbolizes the progress through work.
The Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Havana in 2004
This church is located in old Havana.
The church was built in various phases between the 16th and 18th centuries. With its intricate carvings, decorations and sculptures, this church is considered a favourite place to visit.
A Cameraman (?)
I shot this photo in one of the squares. But I still am not sure whether this is a vintage camera or sort of a gramophone.
A Square in Havana in Photos in 2004
There are a number of interesting features in this photo.
- Women in traditional dress
- A gentleman with a camera. He could be some official or a tourist guide (three people with the same coloured top). But it is also possible he is a cameraperson offering to take photos of people (he still has his flash despite the bright outdoors).
- This is a square and in the back there are people seated and enjoying a drink/meal.