Cruz Verde

CA3
General sightseeing
CA Ranking: 3
Admission: n-a
Mercaderes, esq. a Amargura, Habana Vieja
  • The corner of Amargura and Mercaderes is known as Cruz Verde (Green Cross) due to a green-painted cross affixed to the northwest-facing cornerstone. The cross is one of twelve that were to be found along Amargura in early colonial days, when the Vía Crucis (Way of the Cross) pilgrimage was made each Easter from Plaza de San Francisco to Plaza del Cristo.

    The building—known as Casa de la Cruz Verde—has been restored, providing apartments (in a all-new top story of 21st-century design) for local people above the recently opened, and very popular, Museo del Chocolate.

    
  • Droguería Johnson

    Droguería Johnson  LH 3

    Tragically, after being beautifully restored by the City Historian’s Office, this pharmacy caught fire on March 16, 2005. Shelves, counters, the façade woodwork, porcelain ornaments and laboratory app …

    Hotel Habana Libre

    Hotel Habana Libre  LH 3

    Located on the famous corner of 23 and L streets, the Habana Libre Hotel, with its 25 floors and 630 spacious rooms, stands majestically and offers an incomparable view of the bay. The building occupi …

    Convento e Iglesia del Carmen

    Convento e Iglesia del Carmen  LH 3

    In 1923, members of the order of the Carmelites purchased a lot on the corner of Avenida del Presidente Menocal and Neptuno, where first they created a provisional chapel and later erected the majesti …

    Coche Mambí

    Coche Mambí  LH 3

    Outside the Museo Palacio de Gobierno sits a railway carriage, still on rails at the corner of Callejón Churruca. It originally belonged to the Cuban Railroad Company and beginning in 1902 was used by …

    Hotel Ambos Mundos

    Hotel Ambos Mundos  LH 3

    This 1920s eclectic hotel is best known for being described by Hemingway as “a good place to write.” He stayed here during the 1930s and this is where he wrote his chronicles on fishing and the first …

    Museo Nacional de la Danza

    Museo Nacional de la Danza  LH 3

    Opened in October, 1998, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the National Ballet of Cuba, this museum features objects mainly from Alicia Alonso’s collection, as well as documentaries, costumes a …

    El Torreón

    El Torreón  LH 3

    Recently restored, El Torreón or as locals call it Castillito (literally, small castle), built in 1649 with blocks from the San Lázaro Quarry (where José Martí was sentenced to forced labor), was part …

    Parque de los Mártires Universitarios

    Parque de los Mártires Universitarios  LH 2

    This cement park was built in 1967 to honor university students involved in Cuba’s independence struggles. The most notable element, located by the most important entrance, can be interpreted a fist, …

    Cárcel de la Habana

    Cárcel de la Habana  LH 2

    Up until 1834 there were no prisons in Havana. Back then, prisoners were crammed together in a small area on the Palacio de Gobierno’s basement. With this in mind, Lieutenant General Miguel Tacón, Gov …

    Museo Farmacia Taquechel

    Museo Farmacia Taquechel  LH 2

    This townhouse was adapted in 1898 into a pharmacy by Francisco Taquechel. Restored and reopened in 1996, it functions as pharmacy and museum. Its collection includes 19th-century French porcelain apo …

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