The distinctly non-communist fairytale crown atop a wrought-iron archway is something of a giveaway for one of Havana’s most delightful gardens, the Jardín Diana de Gales (Diana of Wales Garden, calle Baratillo, esquina a Carpinetti, daily 9 am–6 pm). This was unveiled in 2000 in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales.
At its center is a three-meter-tall column by acclaimed Cuban artist Alfredo Sosabravo. There’s also an engraved Welsh slate and stone plaque from Althorp, Diana’s childhood home, donated by the British Embassy.
The garden sits just behind the Lonja del Comercio at one corner of Plaza de San Francisco. It actually backs onto the Casa de los Esclavos (calle Obrapía, esquina a Avenida del Puerto), a slave-merchant’s home that now serves as the principal office of the City Historian.
This is a place to come when you want to take the heat out of the day, comfortably bathed in shade from its leafy surrounds. It is something of a hidden gem that is worth seeking out for those footsore sightseers of Havana.
Colonial
