Thursday, 13 January 2011 06:44
Cuba´s National Hotel is the Caribbean´s flagship.
Opened on 30 December, 1930, this iconic hotel is located on Taganana Hill´s coastal border, near the end of San Lázaro´s cove, in the central district El Vedado, which makes for a splendid view of a part of Havana Bay, the Morro fortress and the Malecón (the famous wall separating the road and the ocean).
It´s eclectic architecture blends Art Deco, neoclassical and neocolonial. The Presidential Suite is a great example, which is composed of the finest and most elegant design; or the magnificent apartment for the Republic, intended to accommodate Cuban state members, which alone justifies it´s fame and majesty.
It´s a five-star hotel belonging to the Gran Caribe Hotel Group and has 426 rooms. It has housed many artists, politicians and scientists; some of the famous artists are Jorge Negrete, Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, María Félix, Kevin Costner, Steven Spielberg, Naomi Campbell and Compay Segundo. Also, government officials such as former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and scientist Alexander Fleming also passed through its gardens.
The galleries and salons are famous for their artwork and memorabilia from some major figures in history, as well as they were a refuge for some of the most well-known gangsters like Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky.
Below the hotel´s extensive gardens, tunnels were constructed for Havana´s defense during the October Crisis in 1962. Today there are other hotel attractions such as one of the most visited, "El Pozo" (the Wishing Well). According to tradition, whoever places their hand on the rim, drops a coin and makes a wish, many assure that it will come true.
Among the many interesting events that have occurred in the hotel, one of the most interesting was when a group of officers took over the hotel and declared a rebellion against Sergeant Fulgencio Batista in 1933. The military occupied the entire hotel, which was fiercely attacked by two battleships and artillery coming from colonial fortress La Cabaña. The fight ended with the military´s surrender.
This place is full of history and is also well-known for excellent service and exquisite restaurants. Their buffet-table linens exhibit designs from 70 Cuban painters. And you can find more than 300 valuable artworks in its lounges.
Thus, the National Hotel is the best art hotel in the Caribbean and since its start, still true today, as Alejo Carpentier described, it is an "enchanted castle."
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