 |
Address:Prado e/ San Rafael y Consulado, Habana Vieja
Construction date:1915 |
Initial use:
One of the architectural jewelry of Havana is placed in front of Parque Central, next to Capitolio Nacional and it is the Gran Teatro de La Habana. At the beginnings it was named Tacón and it was inaugurated in 1915 in the building which belonged to the Centro Gallego de La Habana.
Two aspects emerge from this institution, the first class art showed there, with outstanding personalities during its history (Sara Bernhardth, Enrico Caruso, Alicia Alonso), and the incredible neo-baroque façade of the building with the signature of the Belgian architect Paul Belau, and decorated by other international sculptors, which can be seen in its four sides covering a whole block between Consulado, San Rafael, San Martín and Prado streets.
Between seat and circles, the capacity of its main hall, named Federico García Lorca, is for two thousand people. Other two halls of a lower capacity formed part of the great cultural center, as well as, art galleries and other small premises for different artist companies which have their space there (National Ballet of Cuba, National Opera, etc).
Moreover, not only in its façade there are evidences of its exquisiteness, but also its indoors halls show the luxury and elegance of the time. Its stages have shown the better artistic representations of all times. There, the prestigious International Ballet Festival is held every two years where the most relevant worldwide personalities of this art have an excellent opportunity for meeting.
