Havana - El Templete

If you are in Havana on November 16th, be sure to stop in at El Templete. It is on this date that the inhabitants of Havana celebrate the first mass and town council of San Cristobal de la Habana, which took place in 1599.

El Templete was started in the middle of the 18th Century and it was not until 1828 that it was finished. The style of architecture is neo-Classical and the building is in terrific shape due to the ambitious renovation and restoration program undertaken by the government.

Be sure to check out the interior of the building and the three large canvases by Jean Baptiste Vermay. It is easy to find El Templete, just look for the beautiful and exotic ceiba tree standing out front. Most tours of Havana leave from