Officially named as Paseo de Marti for a decree that issued that all the main avenues or streets in Cuba should carry the names of the Cuban heroes, El Paseo del Prado is the name that among Cubans one of the greatest avenues in Cuba receives.
The Paseo del Prado is one of the prettiest main streets in the old part of the city. It begins at the Central Park Hotel and leads down to the seafront known as the Malecon, which gives this avenue its reputation. A wide walkway lined with trees and stone benches bisects the street, while in either side you can see the columns and arches of the mostly residential neocolonial balcony buildings, painted in a whole host of colors.
The works of this impressive boulevard began out walls in 1770 (it is important to say that what is now the Old Havana was enclosed with walls and its doors were closed at 9 o’clock every day, a tradition that still remains and the ceremony is known as El Cañonazo) and it was finished in the middle of 1830 during the term of office of Captain Miguel Tacon.
In 1928 the statues of the lions were included all along the avenue. These lions have a funny story. Havana was the most important village of Spain in the New World, so it was necessary to protect it from corsairs and pirates. Spain decided then to fortify the bay and bought hundreds of cannons to protect and defend the village. When the neo-colonial stage, it was proved that the cannons were no longer necessary and they were melted and used to create the sculptures of the lions that today you can see while you are walking along the avenue during your staying in Havana. These lions are the most known feature that the Paseo del Prado has.
At the beginning of the construction, the idea was that this Paseo would resemble the Paseo del Prado in Madrid, but it turned out to be smaller both in width and length, even though it did stand alongside the one in Madrid. Therefore, in this way the desire of the Spanish that decided to took permanent residence in the island was fulfilled and their dream of having a Paseo came true.
The Paseo is in the very touristic center of Old Havana. Despite of which, it still belongs to the locals and it is usually overrun with newspaper sellers, Cubans chattering, children playing ball games, artists that sell their paintings, and its neighbors. If you want to have the knowledge of being along with Cubans, to talk to them, to share, here you can have the opportunity. Walking alongside the street you can even be part of the romance that this street holds and find in every corner a new experience.
Also, you may find little cafés to rest and have the best Cuban-made coffee, highly praised in the world for its flavor; the best hotels in the city and the warmth of the Cuban people.
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