Havana - Capitol Building

(Local Name: Capitolio) Visitors to Havana who have been to Washington, DC, may do a double take when they see the Capitolio building. A close approximation to the American Capitol building, the Capitolio was the seat of government until 1959. Nowadays, the building houses the ministries of Technology, Environment, and Science. The Capitolio building makes a good landmark for those wandering around Havana, its 92m / 300ft is visible from almost anywhere in the city.

The Capitolio, inaugurated in 1929, is done up in an interesting combination of neo-Classical and Art Deco styles. Tours are available and some of the key sights are a copy of a 25 carat diamond inlaid in the floor, the acoustically unique Salon de los Pasos Peridos, and the gold covered Statue of the Republic, reputed to be the largest bronze statue of Pallas Athena in the world.