"ARCHITECTURE" Tour

"ARCHITECTURE" Tour

Description

For lovers of architecture, to visit Havana will be an intense experience. Defined by Carpentier as "City of style without styles", Havana offers herself to visitors with the charm and the mysteries of a legendary city. To walk her streets, and to visit the different districts is something similar to a trip through the time, where is possible to see all the architectural trends that have conformed Havana´s profile and consolidated our city like one of the of the most important cities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Founded in 1519 the Havana City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982. The Old City and her system of fortifications, are a classical instance of colonial architecture, joined to the private residences, luxurious palaces and wonderful squares from the centuries sixteen and seventeen.

The Malecón, our balcony to Caribe sea, is the protagonist of the change, where the antique buildings give up their space to the modern city, where the eclecticism, art noveau, art deco, modernism and the contemporary tendencies, share the shadow of trees in ample avenues and parks. El Cerro, El Vedado, Santo Suárez o Miramar are some districts where typical architecture will bring us a particular point of view about the Cuban history and help to understand how the change in the sociocultural context of the island contributed to conform the actual identity of the Cuban capital.

An experienced art and architecture specialist will take you inside the fascinating world of Cuban architecture - from the colonial period till today. This tour provides the visitors the chance to see examples of some of the finest and most interesting buildings in Havana, and to further understand her complex history.

This tour can be equally enjoyed by those interested in knowing more about the history of Cuban architecture and by professionals and students in the field. It can be enjoyed as a half day or full day tour.

Half-day tour

(From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm or from 2:30 to 6:30 pm)

One-day tour

(From 9:00 am to 6:00 pm).

• This will be arranged on individual needs and/or time availability.

• The transportation (if it is required) is not included in the price.

VARIANT

Colonial Havana:

• This tour is quite similar to the typical walking tour but broader because it includes emblematic houses and churches of the time. May include visit to the Master Plan of Havana prior coordination. It can fit between 2-4 hours or a full day. Does not require transportation.

Havana Art Deco:

• Visit to emblematic buildings within the art deco movement, mainly in Old Havana, Centro Habana, Vedado and Miramar. It includes public and private buildings, funerary and religious architecture. Importance of art deco in social constructions.
• It can be taken for 2 hours, 4 hours or a full day and in the latter case the visit to buildings in the southwest of the capital such as the Lutgardita neighborhood and the Boyeros Art Center is included.
• Transportation is essential for the client.

Modern Havana:

• It basically focuses on the architecture of the 1950s and includes public and private works located mainly in El Vedado, Nuevo Vedado, Miramar and Reparto Cubanacán, always emphasizing the works of architecture and furniture of the Modern Movement.
• Duration: 4 hours or full day.
• Transportation is essential for the client.

Architecture in the Revolution:

• The tendency to show our architectural jewels from the colonial and modern times has left aside an important part of our history, however, although it is not normally mentioned, the cultural change that the Triumph of the Cuban Revolution brought about brought about important changes in the architecture. This tour reveals the position of the revolutionary era through a journey through the distinguished works of each period after 1959: The Art Schools, the Palace of Conventions, the Camilo Cienfuegos district, the Scientific Pole, the Russian Embassy, ​​the Parque Lenin, the West Havana Hotels, social housing, private undertakings and important interventions in architecture, including community projects that have had an undeniable social impact on the architecture and urban planning of the city (Fuster, KCHO, Callejón de Hamel, Muraleando project, LASA project -Laboratory for art in San Agustín-) among others.
• Duration: Minimum 4 hours or full day.
• Transportation is essential for the client.

Havana Houses…. Live with Art:

• This tour is very special since it involves entering houses belonging to the various historical periods (from colonial times to the present day) that are today inhabited by renowned Cuban artists, designers or intellectuals, which not only allows you to appreciate the impressive domestic architecture of Havana and the excellent work of restoration, remodeling or reconversion of spaces respecting and safeguarding the best heritage values ​​but also offers the unique opportunity to visit the private spaces of important figures of the Cuban cultural scene and feel the energy of these spaces full of art and Cuban identity
• Especially recommended for clients very focused on architecture, preferably specialists or collectors, because the owners of these houses are highly selective when it comes to accepting visits to their private spaces. It is possible to organize a cocktail in one of the houses during the tour (not included in the price of the service) Additional charges may apply depending on the places to visit.
• Duration: 4 hours.
• Transportation is essential for the client.

NOTE: In all cases it is possible to prepare full day programs or combine the tours for a more general program.