{"id":231069,"date":"2020-11-30T12:24:38","date_gmt":"2020-11-30T17:24:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=231069"},"modified":"2020-11-30T12:24:38","modified_gmt":"2020-11-30T17:24:38","slug":"havanas-prado-promenade-despite-covid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/havanas-prado-promenade-despite-covid\/","title":{"rendered":"Havana\u2019s Prado Promenade, despite COVID"},"content":{"rendered":"

Through time it has been officially known as Alameda de Extramuros or Paseo de Isabel II or Paseo Mart\u00ed, but for the people of Havana of yesterday and today\u2014and surely also of the future\u2014it has always been and will be the \u201cPrado.\u201d Just like that. A place that neither time, nor storms, real and metaphorical, nor the COVID-19 pandemic have been able to shatter its charm.<\/span><\/p>\n

This extensive two-kilometer-long avenue, built at the end of the 18th century and transformed several times throughout its history, is one of the indisputable symbols of <\/span>Havana<\/span><\/a> and also one of its most emblematic places. A meeting and resting point, dating and commercial operations, strolling and children\u2019s games, street activities and art exhibitions.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Children playing on Havana\u2019s Paseo Promenade. Photo: Otmaro Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although the wide, tree-lined Paseo, with its marble benches, lampposts, and iconic bronze lions\u2014sculpted by Frenchman Jean Puiforcat and Cuban Juan Comas\u2014is its most recognizable face, the Prado actually begins earlier, at the Fuente de la India and in front of the busy Parque de la Fraternidad, and extends to the famous Malec\u00f3n in Havana, passing through the esplanade of the Capitol and Parque Central, with its monumental sculpture of Jos\u00e9 Mart\u00ed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Statue of Jos\u00e9 Mart\u00ed at Havana\u2019s Parque Central. Photo: Otmaro Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Urban border between the municipalities of Centro Habana and Old Havana, its surroundings include unique buildings in the Cuban capital, such as the Capitol itself, the Grand Theater, recently baptized Alicia Alonso, and the Payret movie theater, which has come down in the world until it was forced to close for a lengthy restoration. There are also hotels such as the mythical Inglaterra, the Saratoga, the Tel\u00e9grafo, the Parque Central, and the modern and luxurious Grand Packard y Paseo del Prado, the most recent jewel of Havana\u2019s tourist infrastructure. In addition to others under construction.<\/span><\/p>\n