The fabulous scene of Havana’s Paseo del Prado
Paseo del Prado dominates one of the most popular and well located streets in Havana. All along its extension, we can see some of the most interesting places in the capital for their history and heritage values.
It starts on Malecon, just by La Punta Castle, and almost two kilometers from there it ends, in front of the beautiful art work known as Fuente de la India (Fountain of the Noble Indigenous Woman), next to Parque de la Fraternidad (Fraternity Park). In the surrounding area there are the hotels Parque Central, Sevilla, Telegrafo, Inglaterra; and the magnificent Grand Theater of Havana Alicia Alonso.
Its central area, where you can walk and enjoy the shade, has become a luxurious stage for several cultural events. Besides important events, you may also find some troubadour or group playing traditional Cuban music; and street sellers showing their handcrafts there.
Reminiscing about Prado’s history
It was built in 1772, under the Spanish government of Marques de la Torre. The city was growing and it needed a promenade outside the city wall. Soon it became in the heart of the social life of that time, and its name changed successively a couple of times: “Paseo de Isabel II”, “Paseo de Marti”.
The inhabitants of the village never renounced to call it “Prado”. Today it stands as a pedestrian area covered with trees, stone and marble benches, decorated with cups and corbels, and beautiful iron streetlamps. But its main symbols that became the symbol of the city are the eight lions made of bronze that guard it, made with the bronze of cannons that once protected the city against the pirates.
The oldest part of the road is between Malecon and Neptuno street, on the corner of Havana’s Central Park. What we see today was remodeled by Jean Claude Nicolas Forestier in 1928, he who once was the chief decorator of the gardens, promenades and parks in Paris.
Chanel’s soiree
Decades passed and the “Kaiser of Fashion”, Karl Lagerfeld, head designer for Chanel, landed with a entourage of models at Prado. He came wearing a sequined jacket and gloves. The models were showing the collection “Cruise 2016–2017”, made of fine materials, embroidered by hand and with a minimum value of 2,500 USD.
It was one evening of 2016, and the grand avenue turned into a world fashion center. Karl chose Cuba as the first place in Latin America where he made one of his shows. Dozens of classic cars took the delegation from the mythical Nacional de Cuba Hotel to Paseo del Prado.
There, on the stone benches, underneath the trees, famous people from Cuba and the whole planet awaited to behold the show. Among them were the Brazilian super model Gisele Bundchen, actress Tilda Swinton, actor Vin Diesel, Cuban artist Omara Portuondo and the reggaeton duet Gente de Zona.
To the creative crew of the Chanel fashion house Prado was so appealing that they added no decoration to the natural beauty. It was an event symptomatic of the new times of the country, like the arrival from the US for the first time and after 50 years of the Adonian cruise ship, that was anchored not so far from Prado.
Outdoors gallery
Besides the popular craft-makers and artists that market their creations in Prado, this place has also served to promote the work of great Cuban artists.
It was not strange that during the 10th edition of Havana’s Biennale in 2009, works of art of famous like Jose Villa, Tomas Lara Franquis and Eliseo Valdes Erustes were exhibited. In the 11th edition in 2012, the famous group of artists known as The Carpenters chose the promenade to launch their first performance called “ Irreversible Conga”.
With this action they exhibited the popular tradition of this music genre, very much used in the Cuban carnival parades. The conga they ignited burst into the Prado in the opposite direction it usually runs, meaning they were dancing backwards and they were dressed in rigorous black, different to the usual live colors and traditional outfits for these type of festivities.
A day before, the Habaneros were also impressed by the performance “The Heads” by artist Manuel Mendive. Naked and semi naked bodies, painted with animals and jungle motifs stormed the Prado. Almost 200 people let Mendive to decorate their bodies, in an action the artist classified as:
“A call to human improvement, to love to nature and among humans.”
And a marathon track!
Not only art but also sports, that activity very much associated to the Cubans culture, have taken over the Prado. That happens every year when a beautiful show of thousands of people from all over the world run the Marabana marathon, a competition that has the start and finish line in front of Havana’s Capitol Building and covers the whole promenade.
In the Marabana events open competitions for non professional runners also take place and summon conventional runners and Elites, non Elites, Masters and disabled walkers in the marathon distances: 42 kilometers and 195 meters, and half marathon: 21 and 10 kilometers. At the same time, in the whole island Marabana marathon is run, and Prado becomes the center of the Cuban long- distance race.
In 2018, the Third Sunday in November will be held to celebrate the foundation of the Village of Saint Christopher of Havana in 1519, and the declaration by UNESCO as World Heritage Site. Maybe you are lucky enough and are able to see the runners falling like a wave towards Malecon, on one of the sides of Prado.
Visiting Prado and being amazed by it
Prado Promenade is at the very center of the history of Havana. Many distinguished buildings are around it; and the quiet environment and the shade over its benches are excellent reasons to take some rest after a walking tour around Old Havana.
However, do not think it is strange if, while looking for this you find instead, a stage fit to host the greatest cultural happenings in the island. Enjoy!
Originally published at havanaprivatesuite.com.
