Group of houses on Cárdenas Street

CA4
General sightseeing
Architectural style: Art Nouveau
CA Ranking: 4
Admission: Free
Cárdenas #101, 103, 107, 159 & 161
  • It is unusual in the city to find in such a short stretch so many interesting examples of Art Nouveau constructions. Only recently has the City Historian’s Office begun restoration works on some of the buildings. Although there are several structures here of interest, the houses marked with 101, 103, 107, 159 and 161, which are very similar in their design, carried out by the Catalan architect Mario Rotllant, should be given special attention. These houses feature delightful details, such as side windows shaped as leaves and ornamented with colored glass, exquisite wrought-iron balconies, expressive plaster moldings, and carved woodEN doors with delicate floral motifs.

    
  • 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 …

    Hotel Santa Isabel (Palacio del Conde de Santovenia)

    Hotel Santa Isabel (Palacio del Conde de Santovenia)  LH 4-

    The grandiose palace overlooking the broad cobbled plazuela to the southeast side of Plaza de Armas is the deluxe Hotel Santa Isabel, with its entrance at the corner of Baratillo and Obispo. The hotel …

    Calle Mercaderes

    Calle Mercaderes  LH 3

    One of the busiest streets in Old Havana, second only to Obispo, Mercaderes runs north-south parallel to and two blocks inland of Avenida del Puerto, linking Plaza de la Catedral with Plaza Vieja. The …

    Convento e Iglesia de Santa Clara de Asís

    Convento e Iglesia de Santa Clara de Asís  LH 3

    The concern of Havana’s best families over the fate of their unmarried daughters led to the construction of this convent, which would eventually become the first nunnery in Cuba. Construction works be …

    Hotel Sevilla

    Hotel Sevilla  LH 3

    After the city walls began to be demolished in 1863, construction works for a luxury hotel began on El Prado Avenue, one of the city’s most popular promenades. Manuel López and Urbano González, owners …

    Casa de los Árabes

    Casa de los Árabes  LH 3

    This ethnographic museum dedicated to Islamic cultures founded in1983 displays modest exhibitions on Islamic textiles, carpets, clothing, weapons, ceramics and furniture. The museum is housed in two e …

    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 …

    Parque y Casa Alejandro de Humboldt

    Parque y Casa Alejandro de Humboldt  LH 3

    In this 19th-century house, the scientist Alejandro de Humboldt installed his instruments and botany and mineral collections while ensconced here 1800-1801. Restored as a museum in 1997, the five exhi …

    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 …

    Casa de Los Pelícanos

    Casa de Los Pelícanos  LH 3

    Although modified by later reconstructions, this Art Nouveau apartment building has preserved its beautiful wooden door carved with floral motifs and flanked on both sides by two slender stone pelican …

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