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El Paseo de Isabel II, discover the colonial era
Built in 1772 by order of the then Captain General of the island of Cuba, Marqués de la Torre, the Paseo del Prado is one of the most emblematic, bustling, and attractive avenues in the city of Havana. This thoroughfare begins at the capital’s Malecón (seawall) and crosses through the entire colonial area known as Habana Vieja (Old Havana) until it reaches the boundaries of the republican city, known as Centro Habana. At the time of its construction, it was named Alameda de Extramuros or Alameda de Isabel II.
The way we know it today is the result of the public works plan designed by President Gerardo Machado and executed by the renowned French landscape architect Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier in 1928. Currently, the avenue houses a significant number of commercial entities and is characterized by several villas available for rent in Cuba.
Since the beginning of the 18th century, Havana had become a prosperous city due to its strategic geographical location. It served as a gathering point for Spanish fleets transporting the wealth acquired by the crown in the New World. The increase in pirate and corsair attacks made it evident that sailing in groups was necessary, and the Bay of Havana provided a secure location. Trade flourished, and with it came the need to expand the limits of the walled city due to the population growth. As a strategic axis, Marquis de la Torre initiated the construction of a new artery known as Paseo de Extramuros, around which the fundamental structures and the most powerful families of the new city were grouped.
A decade later, under the government of Miguel Tacón, a second phase of construction occurred, extending the boundaries of the avenue to the coastline, now known as the Malecón de la Habana. During this period (1834-1838), the prison building and the Tacón Theater or Centro Gallego were constructed. For much of the 19th century, the Paseo was exclusively reserved for pedestrian use, and along its route, magnificent neoclassical buildings began to be planned, many of which are now dedicated to offering accommodation for visitors seeking villas to rent in Cuba.
Since the beginning of the 18th century, Havana had become a prosperous city due to its strategic geographical location. It served as a gathering point for Spanish fleets transporting the wealth acquired by the crown in the New World. The increase in pirate and corsair attacks made it evident that sailing in groups was necessary, and the Bay of Havana provided a secure location. Trade flourished, and with it came the need to expand the limits of the walled city due to the population growth. As a strategic axis, Marquis de la Torre initiated the construction of a new artery known as Paseo de Extramuros, around which the fundamental structures and the most powerful families of the new city were grouped.
A decade later, under the government of Miguel Tacón, a second phase of construction occurred, extending the boundaries of the avenue to the coastline, now known as the Malecón de la Habana. During this period (1834-1838), the prison building and the Tacón Theater or Centro Gallego were constructed. For much of the 19th century, the Paseo was exclusively reserved for pedestrian use, and along its route, magnificent neoclassical buildings began to be planned, many of which are now dedicated to offering accommodation for visitors seeking villas to rent in Cuba.
Forestier Plan: the republican era
With the first U.S. intervention in Cuba in 1902, a reconstruction of Paseo de Isabel II took place, and its name was changed to Paseo de Martí (although it was popularly known as Paseo del Prado). The new renovation was connected to Parque Central and featured a tree-lined pedestrian pathway, delimited by two side avenues and a parking area.
Around the structure, the first building with modern hotel characteristics, the Hotel Telégrafo, was constructed, as well as other social-use structures such as cinemas and theaters. Eclectic-style mansions were also designed, imitating European fashion.
In the late 1920s, the French landscape architect Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier carried out a new redesign of the avenue, turning it into one of the most important promenades in Latin America. Many trees were planted, and marble benches with eight lion statues were included. These bronze sculptures seemed to guard the park, which was divided into four well-defined sections: the Paseo, Parque Central, Explanada del Capitolio, and Plaza or Parque de la Fraternidad.
It became the first asphalted avenue in Havana, and automobiles quickly became an inseparable part of its streets. Furthermore, important political and social structures continued to be built. The most significant of these was the Capitolio de La Habana (Capitol of Havana), whose esplanade was integrated into the urban design concept of the rest of the Paseo. Choose one of our villas for rent in Cuba and have an unparalleled experience on the island.
El Paseo del Prado nowadays
From the 1950s onwards, many affluent families relocated to the new suburban complexes of Miramar, Siboney, and El Vedado. With the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, these properties began to be occupied by middle-class families, and their prestige declined. However, in the early 1990s, the new Cuban administration reopened its doors to international tourism, and the area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since then, hotel structures, restaurants, cafes, and luxurious villas for rent in Cuba have been restored.
The area is known for hosting art exhibitions and sales and has been the backdrop for important events, such as the legendary Chanel fashion show in 2016.
